Innovative solutions for the elimination of tuberculosis among migrants and refugees

Overview

Tuberculosis (TB) remains a significant global health challenge. Refugees, migrants, and other displaced people are disproportionately vulnerable to TB, facing compounded risks such as inadequate healthcare, unsafe living conditions, and legal and social barriers. This technical report, prepared by the World Health Organization (WHO) in collaboration with the World Innovation Summit for Health (WISH), Qatar Foundation, outlines innovative solutions and policy options to address TB in these at-risk populations.

The report outlines ten policy options to effectively prevent and address TB among refugees and migrants. These policy options are aligned with global strategies and commitments including WHO’s End TB Strategy, the political declaration from the 2023 United Nations high-level meeting on the fight against TB, WHO’s global action plan on promoting the health of refugees and migrants, and the Global compacts on Refugees, and for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration, as well as the Sustainable Development Goals.  Adoption of these policy options is expected to contribute towards improved health and wellbeing of refugees and migrants.

The report also includes case studies from regions and countries such as Qatar, the Greater Mekong Subregion, the Middle East, Cox’s Bazar, the Amazonas, Eastern Africa and Poland. These case studies illustrate the effectiveness of innovative approaches and cross-sectoral collaboration in addressing TB among refugees and migrants.

The report calls for urgent action and the roll-out of innovative solutions to eliminate TB among refugee and migrant populations.