Member States have agreed a five-year global action plan to promote the health of refugees and migrants. The plan focuses on achieving universal health coverage - and the highest attainable standard of health - for refugees and migrants and for host populations.
The plan includes short and long-term steps to mainstream refugee and migrant health care; enhance partnerships; strengthen health monitoring and information systems and counter misperceptions about migrant and refugee health.
Member States are requesting that the Director-General report back on progress at the 74th World Health Assembly. Reports to the 74th and 76th World Health Assemblies will also include information provided by Member States on a voluntary basis, and UN agencies as appropriate.
Globally, the number of international migrants has grown. During the period 2000–2017, the total number of international migrants rose from 173 million to 258 million, an increase of 49%. The number of forcibly displaced people, 68.5 million, is also the highest ever, and includes 25.4 million refugees. Ten million stateless people lack a nationality and access to basic rights such as education, health care, employment and freedom of movement.