History

NIHMP represents the development of the scientific, clinical, training and research work started in the early Eighties in the Department of Preventive Medicine of Migration, Tourism and Tropical Dermatology of the Institute for Dermatologic and Sexually Transmitted Diseases “Santa Maria e San Gallicano” of IFO Hospitals in Rome.
For more than 20 years San Gallicano Institute has offered reception, health care, scientific research and specialized training aimed at controlling poverty-related diseases and improving the health conditions of migrants, asylum seekers, victims of trafficking, homeless and nomads. The Institute was recognized as the “Referral Centre for Latium Region and its Health Agencies for the education and training of social and health workers dealing with migrants’ health care” (Regional Resolution n. 1358 of 15 April 1998). Since March 28, 2002 (Regional Resolution n. 387) the San Gallicano Institute is the “Territorial Centre for Hansen Disease” and on July 30, 2004 (Regional Resolution n. 693), it became the “Regional Referral Centre for the health care promotion of migrants, homeless, nomads and people at risk of social exclusion”.
More recently (Paragraph 827 of Art. 1 of Law 27 December 2006, n. 296), the National Institute for Health, Migration and Poverty took over the Regional Referral Centre for the health care of migrants, homeless, nomads and people at risk of social exclusion of the Institute for Skin and Sexually Transmitted Diseases “Santa Maria e San Gallicano”.

The past experience

A marble stone in the entrance-hall of the Institute for Skin and Sexually Transmitted Diseases “Santa Maria e San Gallicano” in Rome reads as follows “BENEDICTUS XIII P.O.M.NEGLECTIS REJECTISQUE AB OMNIBUS PRURIGINE LEPRA ET SCABIES… (omission) A FUNDAMENTIS EREXIT. ANNO SALUTIS MDCCXXV”. It reminds all visitors, that this Hospital was founded in 1725 by Pope Benedictus XIII to host and heal sick Roman inhabitants and pilgrims from all over Europe, especially the poor and rejected ones affected by skin diseases, mostly leprosy and scabies. Since then, the Institute has always paid special attention to the poorest and marginal groups and, in 1936, acquired the juridical status of Scientific Institute for Research, Hospitalization and Health Care (IRCCS).
Complying with the original inspiration and ethical principles, a new activity started in the Eighties. It consisted in free hosting and treatment for disadvantaged and marginalized people, both Italian and migrant, at risk of being deprived of the health care assistance because of their poverty, ignorance, etc.
This initiative is in accordance with Article 3 of the Italian Constitution that reads: “All citizens have equal social dignity and are equal before law, without distinctions of sex, race, language, religion, political opinions, personal and social conditions” and with Article 32 of the same Constitution that underlines that “The Republic safeguards health as fundamental right of the individual and collective interest, and guarantees free medical care to the indigent”. These principles are now being put into practice by the latest provisions of the law.

In 1985 the Department of Preventive Medicine of Migrations, Tourism and Tropical Dermatology was established.
Working together with welfare institutions and social work associations, the Institute became the first public structure in Rome to offer free medical care to disadvantaged people. For many years it represented the only referral point for the assistance, treatment and clinical, scientific, epidemiological, social, anthropological research on people at risk of being deprived of their right to access to health care structures like migrants, nomads, drug addicts and homeless. Therefore, the San Gallicano Institute became an observatory to study and monitor health conditions and risks of the weak groups.

Its clinical practice aims at: a) facilitating the access to health and social services for everyone; b) reducing costs by adopting suitable health practices; c) improving the efficiency of diagnosis and treatment. The service focused on experimenting integrated strategies to promote the health care of migrants, refugees, victims of trafficking, homeless and nomads in Latium Region. This objective is pursued through clinical interventions, early diagnosis and treatment of widely spread pathologies and training of social and health workers.

Apart from offering medical examinations, analysis, research and studies, the staff of the Institute worked at the information and training on the problems which affect their patients.

Besides clinical, scientific and epidemiological activity, the professionals working in this structure: a. offered their support to marginalized people with respect and a friendly approach; b. promoted networking among public and private institutions with similar purposes and c. carried out training courses on health practices, equal opportunities, as well as shared research programmes by cooperating with many hospitals and institutions in Europe, Africa, South East Asia and Latin America. Training and employment of cultural mediators was also carried out.