As the number of refugees has increased in recent years, there has been growing concern over how best to integrate them into their host society.  While much of this discussion has revolved around employment, given the ordeal many have faced in travelling to their new home, accessing physical and mental health services is equally vital.

Unfortunately, a new study commissioned by the World Health Organization highlights how data gaps can limit the ability for adequate care to be provided.  The report explores the availability and integration of health data among refugees and migrants across the 53 member states of the WHO.

“Reliable, population-based data on health and health care are essential for evidence-based planning of required services and policies,” the authors explain. “However, many gaps in the evidence-base exist for refugees and migrants. This means that social inequities and important morbidities are missed. Our study summarizes currently available evidence on the data situation among countries of the WHO European region and deduces important policy options to improve the current situation.”

Successful integration

The researchers assessed some 700 previously published studies and data sources from 2000 to 2018 that had examined health data for migrants and refugees.  The analysis revealed that just half of the 53 member states routinely collected data on the health of migrants, with relatively few countries integrating data collection into population-based registers.

Attempts to close this data gap have also largely been fruitless, with the authors revealing that targeted data linkage efforts among existing data collections have been poorly utilized.

“The aim of the report was not just to capture the status quo,” the authors say. “The report is intended to support political decision-makers by deducting relevant and practicable policy options from the evidence to improve the data situation for refugees and migrants. These options include the harmonization of population group definitions, improved coordination and governance of routine data collection, regular analysis of available evidence, the inclusion of refugees and migrants in existing data collection systems, as well the exchange of experiences and expertise on data collection systems between Member States.”