Lancet Commission 2018: Migration and Health

This UCL-Lancet Commission report shares evidence-based approaches to inform public discourse and policy on migration, a process touching more than one billion lives in 2018 and deeply rooted in structural and political factors. Current polarizing discourse condemning migration has created far-reaching misunderstandings and misconceptions around migrants—people who often uphold economies, bolster social services, and contribute to health services in both origin and destination locations. The report is driven by five goals: providing the latest evidence on migration and health outcomes; examining multisector determinants of health; critically reviewing key challenges to health migration; examining equity in access to health and health services; and outlining how evidence can contribute to collaborative and equitable policies, and feasible strategies to inform and inspire action.

The report finds that with sufficient political will, the international community, states, and local providers have the knowledge and resources necessary to ensure that individuals most vulnerable to harm are not marginalized, however, attitudes, misperceptions, and cynical political motivations can hinder rights-based approaches to health for migrants, as they are seeking safety and economic security for themselves and their family. Additionally, the report finds that migrants are, on average, healthier, better educated, and employed at higher rates than individuals in destination locations—thereby dispelling unfounded myths around immigrants—but being subjected to discrimination and restrictions puts them at risk of ill health. Migration is an issue which urgently needs attention, as how the world addresses human mobility will determine public health and social cohesion for decades to come.

The report is accompanied by supplemental resources such as a policy brief with key recommendations on ways to improve the public health response to migration, comments, additional articles, and a video from the chair of The UCL-Lancet Commission on Migration and Health and the Editor-in-Chief of The Lancet.