Migration and health as a global priority: Joint appeal published

Migration and health are inextricably linked – and belong at the heart of global health policy. In a published international appeal, leading organizations worldwide are calling for health systems to be more closely aligned with the needs of over one billion people in migration contexts. The GHA – German Health Alliance supports the joint call as one of the initial partner institutions.

The health care of migrantsand refugees is often treated as an acute humanitarian challenge, but is a strategic prerequisite for long-term equitable, resilient, and globally compatible health systems. The signatoriesstress that access to health care for these groups is crucial to achieving key global goals such as the United Nations 2030 Agenda, universal health coverage (UHC) and the crisis response capacity of international systems.

Against the backdrop of geopolitical upheavals and growing inequalities, the Joint Call calls for

• to better adapt health systems to migration and displacement through evidence-based policies,

• to recognize the role of migrants in many health systems,

• to monitor and mitigate the impact of migration policy changes on health and

• to secure or expand financial and structural support for the issue of migration and health – also within the WHO.

“Migration and health are not marginal issues – they are at the heart of a globally just health policy,” states the appeal, which also highlights its relevance in the context of the UN80 initiative on peace, development, humanitarian aid and human rights.

The full call and the opportunity to sign are available online at: www.joint-call.org