WHO Report: Over 60 Countries Now Embed Refugee and Migrant Health into National Policies

A landmark report from the World Health Organization (WHO) has delivered the first global baseline on how nations are addressing the health of the more than 1 billion people who live as refugees or migrants today. Drawing on data from 93 Member States, the assessment shows that a growing number of governments are writing the health needs of these populations directly into their laws and strategic plans. The shift matters because it signals a move away from ad hoc charity models toward rights-based, systemic inclusion—a change with profound implications for health security, equity, and the resilience of health systems worldwide.

Why refugee and migrant health has become a global priority

Human migration is not new, but its scale is unprecedented. Over one in eight people on the planet now live outside their country of birth or are forcibly displaced within their own borders. The reasons are diverse: armed conflict, climate disasters, economic desperation, family reunification, education. Regardless of the reason, migrants and refugees often share a common experience of fragmented healthcare. They are disproportionately affected by infectious diseases like tuberculosis and HIV, have higher rates of occupational injuries, and face elevated risks for mental health conditions including depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder. Pregnant migrant women, in particular, are more likely to die during childbirth or lose their babies than host-country nationals, a disparity that persists even in high-income settings.

For years, the dominant approach was to manage migrant health through parallel, temporary humanitarian programmes. But the WHO’s Global Action Plan on the Health of Refugees and Migrants, endorsed by Member States in 2019, called for a fundamental rethink: embedding migrant health within universal health coverage, strengthening data systems, and ensuring that preparedness plans leave no one behind. The new monitoring report, released in 2025, measures how far countries have come since that commitment was made.

The evidence: what the WHO survey found

The “World report on promoting the health of refugees and migrants: monitoring progress on the WHO global action plan” was published by the World Health Organization. It is not a peer-reviewed journal article but an official global monitoring exercise based on a cross-sectional survey of 93 WHO Member States. The WHO did not name an individual lead author; the report is a product of the WHO Health and Migration Programme and was launched with commentary by Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.

The headline finding is quantitative: more than 60 countries—approximately two-thirds of the 93 nations that provided data—now explicitly include refugees and migrants in their national health policies, strategies, or laws. This is the first time such a global figure has been available, establishing a baseline against which future progress can be measured. The survey also captured country-level practices through case studies. Thailand, for instance, has expanded migrant health insurance coverage. Belgium has deployed cross-cultural communication mediators in healthcare settings. Chile has brought migrant community representatives into decision-making bodies that shape primary care delivery.

Yet the report is equally clear about where the world is falling short. Only 37% of responding countries routinely collect, analyse, and disseminate migration-related health data as part of their national health information systems. This means that in the majority of nations, policymakers cannot see the health outcomes of migrants disaggregated from the general population—a blind spot that makes it nearly impossible to design targeted interventions. Just 42% include refugees and migrants in emergency preparedness, disaster risk reduction, or response plans, a gap that is particularly dangerous in an era of climate-driven displacement and pandemic threats. Fewer than 40% report training health workers in culturally responsive care, and only 30% have implemented communication campaigns aimed at countering misperceptions and discrimination related to migrant health. Access itself remains patchy: while refugees are more likely to be covered by national schemes, migrants in irregular situations, internally displaced persons, migrant workers, and international students are far less consistently protected. Additionally, refugees and migrants remain under-represented in health governance and decision-making processes in most countries surveyed.

What this means for you

Even if you are not a refugee or migrant, the findings affect you. Health systems that exclude parts of the population create blind spots for infectious disease surveillance, delay outbreak detection, and drive up long-term costs through untreated chronic conditions. When a migrant agricultural worker cannot access primary care, a preventable condition can escalate into an expensive emergency that strains public hospitals. When a refugee family avoids vaccination services because they fear deportation, the entire community’s herd immunity weakens. The report’s message is that inclusive health policies are not only a moral imperative but a practical investment in public health security and economic stability.

For health professionals, the gaps in training are a call to action. With fewer than 40% of countries providing culturally responsive care training, many clinicians lack the skills to take a social history that accounts for migration-related trauma, to work effectively with interpreters, or to recognise diseases that are rare in the host country but common in a patient’s place of origin. Readers who work in healthcare can advocate for such training in their institutions. For readers who are themselves migrants or refugees, the report provides a benchmark you can use to ask questions of local health authorities: “Does my country collect health data that includes people like me? Am I included in the national health strategy? What happens to my care in an emergency?”

Expert perspective

Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General, underscored that inclusion is a two-way street. “Refugees and migrants are not just recipients of care,” he said. “They are also health workers, caregivers and community leaders. Health systems are only truly universal when they serve everyone. WHO’s new report on the health of migrants and refugees shows that inclusion benefits whole societies and strengthens preparedness for future health challenges.” Although the report provides robust cross-sectional data, a limitation is that it relies on self-reported information from Member States, which may vary in quality. Future monitoring efforts will need independent validation and a more granular breakdown by migrant subgroup to track progress reliably over time.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What exactly did the WHO report find about countries including migrants in health policies?

The report analysed responses from 93 countries and found that more than 60 of them—roughly two-thirds—now incorporate refugees and migrants into their national health policies, strategies, or laws. This is the first global baseline measurement of inclusive health policymaking for these populations.

Q: Which groups of migrants are still being left behind by health systems?

Access is highly uneven. Refugees generally enjoy broader coverage through international protection frameworks, but migrants in irregular situations, internally displaced persons, migrant workers, and international students are far less likely to be consistently covered by national health policies. The report stresses the need for tailored strategies that reach all subgroups, not just the most visible.

Q: What are the biggest weaknesses in how countries handle migrant health?

The survey identified several persistent gaps. Only 37% of countries routinely collect migration-related health data. Just 42% include refugees and migrants in emergency preparedness plans. Fewer than 40% train health workers in culturally responsive care, and only 30% run communication campaigns to combat discrimination. These deficits mean that even where inclusive policies exist on paper, implementation often falls short.

Q: How does inclusive health policy for migrants benefit the wider population?

Inclusive policies improve disease surveillance, reduce hospital overcrowding by enabling preventive care, and lower long-term healthcare costs. They also strengthen health security by ensuring that all population groups are reached during outbreaks or disasters. When migrants can contribute fully to the economy and society in good health, the whole community benefits.

Q: What can individual health workers do to support migrant-sensitive care?

Health workers can seek out training on culturally responsive care, learn to work effectively with medical interpreters, and familiarise themselves with the health profiles common in the migrant communities they serve. They can also advocate within their institutions for the inclusion of migration-related questions in patient intake forms and for disaggregated data collection that respects patient privacy and consent.

Sources

• World Health Organization (2025). World report on promoting the health of refugees and migrants: monitoring progress on the WHO global action plan. Geneva: WHO. https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240117747