In September 2007, the UN Refugee Agency UNHCR summarized the main asylum application levels and trends during the first six months of the year in 36 industrialized countries, including 26 European Union (EU) Member States. Based on the assumption of unchanged yearly patterns, the total number of new asylum claims lodged in these 36 countries over 2007 is about 300 000. The overall number of claims has decreased continuously over the past few years, but this trend was reversed in the second half of 2006. The current numbers represent the first increase since 2001.1 Asylum seekers are considered a vulnerable group. Many of them leave their country in difficult circumstances and hope to find a new home elsewhere. In many cases they were exposed to poverty, persecution or violence before they left. Their countries of origin are often unstable in economic, political and social respect. The geographical origin of asylum seekers in the mentioned 36 countries is very heterogenous.1 In the first half of 2007, Iraqi applicants remained the largest group, with about 14% of all claims. Iraq was followed by China as the second most important source country, with 6% of the claims. Also Pakistan, Serbia and Montenegro and the Russian Federation belong to the leading countries, each of them with 4–5%. In addition, asylum seekers and other migrants usually cross pronounced interpersonal, socio-economic and cultural boundaries.2 These factors together should be taken into account when planning adequate health screening programmes. Medical reception and screening of asylum seekers upon entry is closely interlinked with fundamental human rights. This medico–ethical complex should reconcile the basic needs and rights of the individuals involved and those of the host country. Psychosocial and psychiatric problems …