WHO expands migrant health access
WHO reports that more than 60 countries now explicitly guarantee migrants and refugees access to national health services, marking measurable progress toward inclusion and resilience in health systems. The shift matters for planning care in displacement and emergency contexts. (who.int)
WHO published the “World report on promoting the health of refugees and migrants: monitoring progress on the WHO global action plan” as a news release on 26 March 2026 that accompanies a longer WHO world report. ( who.int ) The analysis draws on responses from 93 WHO Member States and is described by WHO as establishing the first global baseline for tracking migrant‑responsive health systems. ( who.int ) WHO’s release notes that more than 1 billion people—over one in eight globally—live as refugees or migrants, a figure the report uses to frame the scale of service planning needed. ( who.int ) Only 37% of responding countries routinely collect, analyze and disseminate migration‑related health data through national health information systems, a gap WHO flags for targeted improvement. ( who.int ) Just 42% of surveyed countries include refugees and migrants in emergency preparedness, disaster risk reduction or response plans, a shortfall WHO links to vulnerabilities during displacement and crises. ( who.int ) The report presents region‑spanning case studies—expanded migrant health insurance in Thailand, cross‑cultural communication mediators in Belgium, and migrant community representation in primary care decision‑making in Chile—as practical models cited by WHO. ( who.int ) WHO’s full world report (122 pages) and its GAP monitoring framework call for national GAP implementation roadmaps, strengthened data and monitoring systems, and expanded cross‑sector partnerships to move from policy inclusion to operational coverage. ( who.int )
