2. Self-Help Remains Active – For an Inclusive Healthcare System

Lecture

Experiences of discrimination have been proven to impact physical and mental health and make it harder for many people to access adequate healthcare.
This lecture presents current findings on discrimination and racism as social determinants of health. The focus is on their effects on health equity and how discrimination-sensitive structures in healthcare, research, and public health can be strengthened. Additionally, approaches that can promote greater participation, diversity, and justice in the healthcare system will be discussed.

Katja Kajikhina (RKI)
Venue: Room 20

Hepatitis C is now curable in most cases—yet it remains a significant health issue. This workshop explores why the available and highly effective therapies have not been sufficient to sustainably reduce hepatitis C. The focus is on structural barriers in prevention, testing, and care, restrictions on access to diagnostics and treatment—particularly in correctional facilities—as well as the impact of stigma and prejudice on the care of affected individuals.

Contributors: Navina Sarna (RKI) and Torben Beimann (AIDS Support Cologne))
Venue: Room 211

The German healthcare system can be complex and difficult to understand—especially for people who are new to Germany or have specific healthcare needs.
We provide a clear overview of how the healthcare system in Germany is structured. Topics include health insurance, access to doctors and counseling centers, patient rights, and support services specifically for people living with HIV and/or people who use drugs.
The workshop offers space for questions, exchange, and practical information for everyday use.

Speaker: Ahmed Soliman (State Network of Migrant Organizations Saxony-Anhalt (LAMSA) e.V.))
Venue: Room 20

This workshop explores how racism operates in medical facilities—from everyday assumptions and unequal treatment pathways to institutional barriers. We will examine the structural discrimination experiences people face and what we can do to address them. The goal is to make forms of racism in healthcare visible and highlight their impact on health services. Together, we will develop individual action and support options, as well as strategies for structural change.

Speaker: Ruffin Kendall (AIDS Support Düsseldorf))
Venue: Room 211

This workshop examines how patient rights are implemented (or violated) in practice for people who use drugs. Using personal accounts, case studies, and current barriers to care, we will explore experiences of discrimination, breaches of confidentiality, and obstacles to accessing medical services. The aim is to identify visible gaps between legal entitlements and actual care, and to develop practical recommendations for action.

Speaker: Dirk Schäffer (DAH))
Venue: Room 20

Following the workshop *Invisibly Burdened*, this second part invites participants to explore the practice of self-help: We will discuss how people can support one another, what resources and strategies exist within self-help structures, and how culturally and trauma-sensitive peer support can be designed. The focus will be on concrete forms of mutual aid, safe conversation formats, empowerment methods, and the networking of local services.

Dr. Jean-François Siani, Hôpital Saint-Louis, Paris
Venue: Room 20