Aim and purpose of Consensus Conference follow up Task-Force

Abstract

Abstract Background Experts of the high-level Consensus Conference (Pécs, 7-8 October 2019) agreed that there is a need for greater harmonisation and international cooperation on migrant health information systems. In order to facilitate the realization of this goal the formation of a multi-stakeholder scientific task force (TF) was proposed. Objectives The Consensus Conference Follow up Task-Force is an informal, voluntary scientific body, aiming to assist and facilitate the realization of the Statement of the Conference. More specifically: Calling the attention about the needfor reliable, migrants/migration related health, public health and occupational health data;for the harmonisation of the migrants/migration related health information systems;for the establishment of international cooperation;Design and work out unified definitions and technical guidance on taxonomy and methodologies of data collection;Facilitate and assist both individual researchers' and teams' endowers for the international harmonisation of target group variables and indicators in order to ensure comparability of data;Call the attention for and initiate the establishment of a European level migrant health database, and provide scientific and technical assistance for its realization. Results The WHO Collaborating Centre at the University of Pécs Medical School (UPMS) has offered to coordinate this initiative, worked out the Terms of Reference (ToR) of this new body and asked the leading international organizations and individual experts to participate in the work of this innovative endower. WHO, IOM, ECDC and the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights has appointed delegates and twelve experts joint to the initiative. On 11 February an internet-based conference was organized where participants approved the ToR and with consensus Prof. Dr. Kayvan Bozorgmehr has been elected for president. UPMS runs its secretariat. The work plan of the TF will be presented during the conference.