The health condition of the Roma population in the context of primary and secondary care

Abstract In the Czech Republic the Roma belong to one of the most numerous groups. The health condition of this minority is a sphere requiring more research studies and especially follow-up measures including illness prevention. The given paper tries to map studies considering the health condition of the Roma in the Czech Republic and other European states. It also deals with the approach of the Roma minority to health care in the Czech Republic. The database EBSCO, PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, etc., were used in order to map this subject. As the analysis of the available source shows, the Roma population in Europe generally has a worse health condition than the majority society. This was also pointed out by the European Commission. The socio-cultural determinants of health and especially the fact that the Roma population remains at the periphery of the majority society seem to be the main reasons. Although these problems are the subject of many studies on a local as well as European level, it can be stated there is only minimal progress, and not only in relation to the improvement of the health condition of this minority. In view of the above stated results it becomes more important to create specific preventive programmes reflecting the specific requirements and needs of the target group, and to support the active cooperation of the Roma population in caring for their health.