From 21 to 24 September 2026, policy-makers, health managers and technical experts from seven countries and territories gathered in Rome for the second Global Orientation Course for Policy-makers on Refugee and Migrant Health. Jointly organized by WHO Health and Migration Programme (PHM) and the Italian National Institute for Health, Migration and Poverty (INMP), the programme explored how strengthening competencies across health systems can contribute to improved health outcomes for refugees and migrants.
"At INMP, advancing health equity means putting the principle of equality into practice. As a WHO collaborating centre, we develop and implement innovative models of care to ensure that health systems respond to the needs of refugees, migrants and host communities,” said Dr Cristiano Camponi, INMP General Director. “Strengthening the competencies of the health workforce is fundamental to delivering inclusive, people-centred and high-quality health services for all."
As migration and displacement continue to shape public health priorities, health systems require the capacity to respond to diverse population needs through inclusive policies, effective governance and a workforce equipped to deliver equitable, culturally responsive and people-centred care.
“Strengthening the competencies of health workers, health leaders and policy-makers is essential to building inclusive and responsive health systems,” said Dr Santino Severoni, Head of WHO PHM. “By translating global commitments into practical action at country level, we can advance more equitable health outcomes for refugees, migrants and host communities alike.”
Building on the inaugural course held in 2024, the programme focused on supporting countries to implement the WHO Global Competency Standards and strengthen national capacities on refugee and migrant health. Through technical sessions, country presentations and peer exchange, participants explored workforce development, culturally responsive care, governance, multisectoral coordination and evidence-informed decision-making.
A central theme throughout the course was contextualization of the WHO Global Competency Standards to different displacement and migration patterns, health system structures and policy priorities. Discussions highlighted shared challenges, innovative approaches and the value of learning and collaboration across contexts. Promising practices shared included:
- enhancing coordination between health authorities and community partners, in line with the national migration strategy and action plan, to strengthen access, continuity of care and referral pathways for refugees and migrants in Albania;
- promoting interministerial coordination and collaboration between national authorities and humanitarian partners to support refugee inclusion in health services in Congo, including vaccination campaigns and tailored multilingual health communication during health emergencies;
- strengthening coordinated referral pathways and integrated health services for refugees and migrants in Kosovo*, supporting access to care, mental health services and continuity of care;
- strengthening collaboration across health and non-health sectors and enhancing cross-border coordination for refugee and migrant health in Libya, in line with the International Health Regulations (2005);
- leveraging health system review evidence to identify gaps in refugee and migrant health services and inform policy development, resource allocation and service planning in Lithuania; and
- strengthening migration health capacities in the United Republic of Tanzania through border health preparedness, frontline workforce development and community-based approaches that support the health needs of people on the move and host communities.
The programme also provided an opportunity to identify practical strategies for strengthening workforce preparedness, improving service accessibility and quality, and supporting the implementation of refugee and migrant health policies.
Reflections from WHO, INMP and participating Member States highlighted the importance of competency-based approaches in translating policy commitments into action. The course reinforced the role of refugee and migrant health as an integral component of health system strengthening and emphasized the need for continued investment in leadership, workforce development and knowledge exchange to advance universal health coverage.
* References to Kosovo should be understood to be in the context of United Nations Security Council resolution 1244 (1999).