Intercultural competence in healthcare

International migration is a current and growing phenomenon, which has become an increasingly critical issue in Europe since 2013 and this has posed new challenges to the healthcare systems of the European Union (EU). The need for 'culturally competent' healthcare systems that can adapt and respond to the needs of a changing population while taking into account cultural, religious, linguistic and gender diversity, has become more and more an agenda across Europe. Nowadays, it is widely accepted that inequalities in health conditions are mainly due to socio-economic factors, and disparities are particularly evident among certain ethnic and cultural minority groups. Additionally, minorities often face difficulties during their attempts in accessing healthcare, including linguistic and cultural barriers. These barriers are primarily manifested in communication and other interactions between the patient and the healthcare provider. Communication difficulties and misunderstandings may lead to frustration and prejudice among caregivers and also to a lack of cooperation from patients, and consequently, may contribute to poorer health outcomes. Therefore, in order to ensure the highest quality of care for migrants, ethnic or other minority populations in our increasingly diverse societies, it is of crucial importance to overcome the difficulties arising from linguistic, cultural and religious differences. To achieve these goals, an important step is the development of intercultural competences within the healthcare system. Our paper discusses the concept, content and opportunities for the development of intercultural competence in clinical and healthcare settings. Orv Hetil. 2020; 161(32): 1322-1330.