Health Policy and Systems Responses to Forced Migration: An Introduction

Abstract

Forced migration is increasing, and it poses societal challenges and opportunities worldwide. The health of forced migrants has, to date, mostly been analysed with a focus on specific health conditions, such as infectious diseases and mental illness. While access barriers and restrictions in health care entitlements have gained attention, other system-level factors have yet been side-lined. As a result, knowledge on system-level interventions and policies to improve health system performance to the benefit of both forced migrant populations and host societies remains limited. Taking the perspective of health policy and systems to study the phenomenon of forced migration has much to offer in this respect, and helps to advance our understanding of both the challenges and potential solutions to improve the health of forced migrants. This chapter provides a brief introduction to forced migration as well as to health policy and systems. It clarifies why systems perspectives and approaches are needed, and explains their added value. It builds the basis for readers unfamiliar with the field, or from different disciplines and epistemological backgrounds, to help understand and contextualise the specific contributions of the subsequent chapters.