Key messages
- •
Migrants make up a growing share of European populations, but immigration is politically controversial and the need for continued immigration to Europe is still poorly recognised.
- •
Although some exceptions exist, most health information systems in Europe still have a long way to go to improve data collection for the health differences between migrants and non-migrants. Improvements in this respect will be crucial to assess health disparities and improve equity of service provision.
- •
Although migrants are often, at least initially, relatively healthy compared with the non-migrant population in the host country, available data suggest that they tend to be more vulnerable to certain communicable diseases, occupational health hazards, injuries, poor mental health, diabetes mellitus, and maternal and child health problems. Some groups might be at particular risk of non-communicable diseases arising from obesity and insufficient physical activity.
- •
Undocumented migrants face the greatest problems in accessing health services and are expected to cover the full costs of their medical treatment in many European countries.
- •
Legal entitlements need to be expanded, but health systems also need to become more migrant-friendly in other ways—eg, through overcoming language and cultural barriers, improving the competencies of health workers and organisations, and increasing the health literacy of migrants.
- •
We argue that explicit migrant health policies are needed in all European countries with a substantial proportion of migrants in their population.