Latin America: Access to HIV Care for migrants hindered by exclusionary policies

Migration and HIV: challenges to overcome barriers

Economic and political setbacks hinder access to public health services for the HIV-positive migrant population. .

“In many countries, access to HIV prevention and treatment services for trans women is impossible due to their immigration status, and this widens the health gap ” Latin American and Caribbean Network of Trans Women , speaking on the UNAIDS podcast Latin American Dialogues: Intersectionality in the HIV Response.”The network is an organization dedicated to defending the human rights of trans women, sex workers, and trans people in situations of human mobility and migration in Latin America and the Caribbean.

What Vidal says is a summary of the times. According to the UNAIDS program, it is estimated that between 30,000 and 40,000 people in transit in the region are living with HIV. The unprecedented social and economic crisis on the continent has generated the largest flow of refugees and migrants in history. In addition to their immigration status, they face high levels of stigma, xenophobia, and racism, and limited access to healthcare.

“We’ve had to receive colleagues who come with a diagnosis, a month of antiretroviral treatment, and when it ends, we practically have to force the health authorities to support us,” Vidal continues. “And what often happens is that because they don’t have identification, they can’t access treatment so easily. Sometimes adherence is lost because we’re talking about a month, a month and a half of waiting for treatment.”.

What’s missing

Bureaucracy, especially the requirement of identity documents in the health systems of host countries, acts as a tool of exclusion that prevents access to antiretroviral therapies and viral suppression controls.

The activists consulted for this article agree: the impact of HIV on people on the move is often exacerbated by institutional mistreatment, abandonment by families, and lack of support during transit, weakening their health . But they warn, “the response to HIV is weak for the entire population. It is not exclusive to the migrant population .

Deaths from advanced infection continue to be recorded in the region, where health systems are already strained. Barriers to accessing comprehensive and sustainable care exist. There is a lack of prevention models and medication shortages. All of this contributes to the virus not being detected in time.

Setbacks in the region

Countries like Costa Rica and Argentina, which historically led the LGBT+ rights agenda, are showing signs of regression in public policy. In Costa Rica, the withdrawal of the OAS LGBT working group and the halting of sexuality protocols in schools demonstrate this setback. Despite the existence of protective laws, their lack of regulation and a climate of discrimination persist. For example, a gender identity law is still lacking, and the restrictions faced by people with HIV, despite existing laws, do not fully protect them .

In Argentina, the National Front Against HIV, Hepatitis, and Tuberculosis reported a 76% reduction in funding allocated to HIV, hepatitis, tuberculosis, and STIs. The national government transferred the responsibility for purchasing antiretroviral drugs to the provinces without providing the necessary resources or logistical support, leading to medication shortages.

“The Milei government has cut the health budget specifically for everything related to HIV prevention and treatment. There are zero prevention campaigns and zero treatment campaigns. And shortages have begun. Before, the national government provided the medication to the different districts; now, the provision has become the responsibility of each district. Sometimes, districts find that these medications weren’t included in their budget allocations or that they lack the logistical capacity to purchase them; so they run out,” explains Mariano Ruiz, executive director of Human Rights and Diversity .

She adds: “The refugees we receive are mostly Russians or people from countries that were part of the Soviet bloc. The main reason they come to us is because they ran out of HIV medication . We help them by providing guidance before they arrive in the country because they are planning their departure from Russia, where life there is unsustainable. We ask them to find out their HIV status and to start treatment if they are positive. For these refugees, the biggest challenge in accessing healthcare is the language barrier,” she explains.

Barriers to access to health

The dismantling of public systems affects the migrant population. 27% of those seeking treatment arrive in an advanced stage of HIV . Furthermore, those in an irregular situation are 70% less likely to achieve viral suppression, according to UNAIDS data

In Mexico, the transition to the IMSS-Bienestar model (a program to provide free medical care to people without social security) has created administrative barriers that violate the right to life of both migrants and internally displaced persons. The requirement of the CURP (a national identification document) is the main obstacle to accessing medications at CAPASITS (Outpatient Centers for the Prevention and Care of AIDS and Sexually Transmitted Infections, which are free, specialized health units in Mexico).

Brigitte Baltazar Lujano, coordinator of the LGBTQ+ community program at the organization Al Otro Lado in Tijuana, points out the seriousness of these omissions.

“It’s not only the external migrant population that is suffering these devastating effects. The involuntary migrant community, internally displaced persons, are also affected. Recently, there have been many changes in how the government handles health issues. It is more difficult for internally displaced persons to access their HIV medication. For people from other countries, it is twice as difficult to access these medications. This represents a very serious lack of attention from our country in this sector. The right to access medication or any other type of medical care that any human being may have is being violated.”

PrEP is not guaranteed for migrant populations

Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is a vital prevention tool for migrant populations. However, access to PrEP and emergency post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) is limited by bureaucratic barriers and discrimination.

In Tijuana, access for migrants is practically nonexistent because the medication is strictly controlled by the Ambulatory Centers for the Prevention and Care of AIDS and Sexually Transmitted Infections (CAPASITS), and identification is required to obtain it, explains Brigitte Baltazar. This same requirement for identification exists in Costa Rica.

“If a migrant arrives after being sexually abused, the health system’s response is usually, ‘Wait three months, get tested, and if you test positive, then we’ll start antiretroviral medication.’ This adds to all the bureaucracy involved in starting treatment. In other words, there is no emergency PEP available for undocumented people, and that leaves them at absolute risk ,” Brigitte explains.

In Argentina, the situation is similar for both asylum seekers and Argentinians seeking emergency medication. “The main obstacle for asylum seekers is the language barrier. Then there are all the same challenges faced by Argentinians: the lack of medication, and sometimes refusal from healthcare staff who are trying to conserve resources. It’s left to the doctor’s discretion whether they consider the person seeking it to have risky behaviors, even though, according to legislation, PrEP is a prevention strategy available only at the person’s request,” explains Mariano Ruiz.

Lack of funding and anti-immigrant policies

The region is also facing cuts in international cooperation. The withdrawal of funding from USAID , the Global Fund, and the closure of UNAIDS offices have left civil society organizations working on HIV, migration, LGBT+ rights, and other issues in a precarious situation.

“I find it so irresponsible and also very perverse that these cuts are eliminating programs when we know they did produce results and did save lives. This continues to be alarming and worrying,” says Dennis Castillo, executive director of the Institute on LGBT Migration and Refugees for Central America (IRCA Casabierta), an organization based in San José, Costa Rica.

Adding to the financial hardship are anti-immigrant rhetoric and policies. Mario Campos explains that migrants living with HIV in the United States fear deportation when seeking healthcare, and that is reason enough not to seek medical attention.

In everyday life, the stigma also manifests itself in the mistreatment by administrative and security staff in hospitals, even before they receive care. “From the moment migrants arrive at the hospital, it’s the security guard who asks which department they’re going to or their medical condition. People already feel uncomfortable and vulnerable. Once, someone told me that the guard said, ‘That’s why you have to be careful, that’s why you shouldn’t be having reckless sex.’ The stigma and discrimination that migrants suffer is serious, but if you add living with HIV, it’s extremely serious ,” says Brigitte Baltazar from Tijuana.

The community response in Mexico, Costa Rica, Argentina and the United States

Faced with the abandonment by States, grassroots organizations and independent activists have assumed the responsibility of guaranteeing services that governments omit, such as prevention campaigns, screening tests and the supply of medication.

In Mexico, the organization Al Otro Lado combats the exclusion caused by the CURP requirement by providing legal support and a physical presence in hospitals to ensure that migrants and internally displaced persons living with HIV can access services and are not discriminated against. They also manage online registrations, provide transportation, and have established partnerships with the AHF Healthcare Foundationto obtain emergency doses of medication when the government denies them.

“The Mexican State must provide what is rightfully theirs, which is access to healthcare for all people. It is a historical debt that the government owes to the migrant population to receive them and provide them with the services they are legally entitled to,” Brigitte Baltazar reiterates.

In Costa Rica, IRCA Casabierta offers a comprehensive approach that includes legal and psychological assistance, a food bank, and a computer lab for the digital regularization of migrants. Faced with cuts in international funding, the organization manages state resources to purchase preventative supplies that the health system does not provide to uninsured individuals. Dennis Castillo, executive director of IRCA Casabierta, denounces the Costa Rican government for abandoning prevention efforts, delegating this task to civil society.

In Argentina, the organization Human Rights and Diversity runs an integration center for LGBTQ+ refugees, most of whom come from Russia, Belarus, and Georgia. Due to a lack of government support to overcome administrative and language barriers, they use “social interpreters”—former beneficiaries who speak the language—to accompany patients to their medical appointments.

Activist Mario Campos connects people on the move with free clinics in Mexico, the United States, Canada, and Spain. His work focuses on combating the knowledge gap caused by the lack of comprehensive sex education, especially among migrants from Central American countries, primarily Guatemala, El Salvador, and Honduras. Mario believes that misinformation and the lack of comprehensive sex education are critical barriers that increase the vulnerability of people living with HIV.

US: Idaho push to identify immigration status of HIV patients sparks alarm

Idaho lawmakers seek immigration status of HIV patients using state resources

The Department of Health and Welfare would be required to report the immigration status of people using state HIV prevention services under a proposed public health budget.

The move comes after Idaho lawmakers in 2025 passed a measure to prevent some immigrants from accessing services such as soup kitchens, prenatal care and crisis counseling.

Just days before that law was set to take effect, the American Civil Liberties Union of Idaho announced a lawsuit against part of the law that would prevent some immigrants from accessing HIV medication.

The plaintiffs argued that the immigrants couldn’t receive the medication otherwise, and the people needing those meds could face severe health issues or even death, while Idaho risked an HIV spread. A judge agreed and blocked that portion of the law from going into effect while litigation is ongoing.

On Tuesday, during a meeting of the state’s powerful budget committee, lawmakers voted 14-4 to include the immigration report language in a Health and Welfare budget.

The budget committee’s co-chair, Rep. Josh Tanner, R-Eagle, told the Idaho Statesman that someone in DHW told him that there was an increase in HIV among undocumented immigrants. He said he would not share the source.

The report was important to help the state figure out how to get ahead of any increases, he said.

“It’s important to understand,” Tanner said.

AJ McWhorter, a spokesperson with the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare, said there hasn’t been a trend in HIV cases for the past five years, but there have been regional increases “here and there.”

HIV cases have increased in the eastern and southeastern parts of the state in 2026, according to East Idaho News, with seven cases diagnosed in the first three months of the year — matching the typical yearly average.

The number of cases in that part of the state was “unexpected,” McWhorter said.

“As for what is causing the increase in Eastern and Southeastern Idaho, we don’t see a single determining factor,” McWhorter wrote in an email. “Increases can occur due to changes in testing patterns, partner networks, or a variety of other community factors.”

During Monday’s meeting, Tanner refused to let Sen. Melissa Wintrow, D-Boise, talk about the motion, instead repeatedly calling for a vote to be taken. But she managed to slip a word in:

“I need to say I think it’s really important that we are not discriminating against people based on a disease and an infection,” Wintrow said. “Disease knows no immigration status.”

New WHO report shows encouraging gains in migrant health inclusion, but gaps persist

Encouraging progress in inclusive health policies for refugees and migrants

The World Health Organization (WHO) reports a major shift in how countries are responding to the health needs of refugees and migrants, with new data showing more than 60 countries – two thirds of those surveyed – now include them in their national health policies and laws.

Drawing on data from 93 Member States, the report establishes the first global baseline for tracking progress toward inclusive, migrant-responsive health systems.

Human migration is a defining feature of our shared history, driving cultural, social and economic developments across generations. Today, over 1 billion people – over 1 in 8 globally – live as refugees or migrants.

Reasons for moving range from conflict and disasters, to economic opportunity, education or family needs. Yet many refugees and migrants face barriers to accessing care, heightened risks of infectious and chronic diseases, mental-health challenges, and unsafe living or working conditions.

“Refugees and migrants are not just recipients of care, they are also health workers, caregivers and community leaders,” said Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General, World Health Organization. “Health systems are only truly universal when they serve everyone. WHO’s new report on the health of migrants and refugee shows that inclusion benefits whole societies and strengthens preparedness for future health challenges.”

Investment in refugee and migrant health deliver far-reaching dividends. They support better social and economic integration, strengthen the resilience of health systems and reinforce global health security. Inclusive, migrant-responsive health systems also reduce long-term costs by enabling healthy, well-integrated populations to contribute fully to the societies in which they live.

The new “World report on promoting the health of refugees and migrants: monitoring progress on the WHO global action plan” shows that even in politically sensitive contexts, countries are increasingly relying on evidence, data, science, and established norms and standards to guide how migration and health are addressed within national health systems.

Case studies from all six WHO regions illustrate how progress can be achieved in practice – from expanded migrant health insurance coverage in Thailand, to the use of cross-cultural communication mediators in Belgium, and the inclusion of migrant community representatives in decision-making on primary health care delivery in Chile.

Gaps remain

Despite progress, the report highlights persisting gaps:

  • only 37% of responding countries routinely collect, analyze and disseminate migration-related health data as part of national health information systems;
  • just 42% include refugees and migrants in emergency preparedness, disaster risk reduction or response plans;
  • fewer than 40% report training health workers in culturally responsive care for refugees and migrants;
  • only 30% have implemented communication campaigns to counter misperceptions and discrimination related to refugee and migrant health;
  • access remains uneven: while refugees are generally more likely to access health services, migrants in irregular situations, internally displaced persons, migrant workers, and international students are far less consistently covered; and
  • participation in governance is limited: refugees and migrants remain under-represented in health governance and decision-making processes in most countries.

The way forward

WHO welcomes the progress made and urges governments, partners and donors to accelerate progress by:

  • embedding refugees and migrants in all national health policies, strategies and plans;
  • strengthening the collection and use of routine, disaggregated migration health data for planning and accountability;
  • coordinating across sectors spanning health, housing, education, employment and social protection;
  • tailoring strategies to the specific needs of different migrant subgroups, including those in irregular situations;
  • meaningfully engaging refugees and migrants in planning, governance and service design and delivery;
  • training health workers on providing equitable, culturally-sensitive care;
  • tackling misinformation and discrimination through evidence-informed action; and
  • protecting and expanding financing to safeguard progress for all.

WHO will continue to support Member States to translate commitments into action, by strengthening evidence, promoting culturally responsive care and integrating refugees and migrants into resilient national health systems. At global, regional and country levels, WHO will also continue working closely with partners, including the International Organization for Migration, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and the World Bank to advance coordinated, rights-based approaches to refugee and migrant health.

The IOM became the first international organization to onboard onto the Global Digital Health Certification Network (GDHCN), a WHO-hosted digital public infrastructure that enables the verification of health documents across countries. The new collaboration is expected to further enhance efforts to help migrants securely access verifiable health records wherever they go, supporting continuity of care across borders.

By becoming the first international organization to join the GDHCN, IOM underscores WHO’s leadership in leading the public health aspects of refugee and migrant health and in fostering trusted, interoperable digital health systems that protect and empower people globally.

Canada: Petition urges Canadians to oppose moves to restrict refugee health coverage

Media Briefing Note: Conservative motion and Liberal changes to refugee health care – Fact Check and Context

THE SITUATION IN BRIEF

The Conservative Party of Canada has tabled a motion today to drastically restrict health care coverage for asylum seekers under the Interim Federal Health Program (IFHP). Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre released a video yesterday making a series of claims about the program that are factually incorrect or misleading.

Importantly: the Liberal government has already introduced cuts to the same program. Starting May 1, 2026, refugees will be forced to pay out-of-pocket co-payments for medications, dental care, mental health counseling, and vision care. The Conservative motion would go further – stripping nearly all non-emergency coverage entirely.

Both developments require scrutiny.

Click here to sign a petition against cuts to refugee healthcare. 

QUOTE

“The people being targeted by these cuts survived war, torture, and persecution. They came to Canada because we told the world we were a country that offered refuge. Now both political parties are competing to see who can take more away from them – and they are doing it by lying to Canadians. The IFHP is not out of control. Refugees are not the reason you can’t find a family doctor and stripping sick people of basic medications will not reduce your wait time by a single day. We are asking Canadians: don’t let politicians use vulnerable people as a punching bag to score points. Learn the facts. Reject the division. Speak up for refugee healthcare.” – Syed Hussan, Spokesperson, Migrant Rights Network

CLAIM-BY-CLAIM FACT CHECK

(1) CLAIM: “Cutting refugee health care saves money”
VERDICT: False — Liberal co-payments policy shift costs to the most expensive part of the system

The government still covers 100% of emergency visits. When a refugee cannot afford a $4 insulin prescription and ends up in the ICU for diabetic ketoacidosis, that hospitalization costs an average of $7,826. When untreated hypertension leads to a stroke, costs run into the tens of thousands — all downloaded onto provincial systems.

The evidence is unambiguous: multiple peer-reviewed studies, including a randomized controlled trial that found removing a small $5 co-payment reduced hospitalizations by over 60% for chronic disease patients, confirm that co-payments cause low-income patients to forgo medications and end up in emergency rooms. A Canadian study of patients with rheumatoid arthritis found that during co-payment periods, hospital admissions rose while prescription fills fell. TheCollege of Family Physicians of Canada warns the $4 fee will result in deferred care and worse outcomes. Co-payments do not reduce costs — they move them.

(2) CLAIM: “The IFHP costs over a billion dollars and has grown 1,000%”
VERDICT: Misleading and partly false

The IFHP costs a fraction of what Canadians cost the healthcare system. The IFHP represents approximately 0.2% of Canada’s total health spending of $399 billion. Put another way, Canada spends $9,626 a year on healthcare per Canadian, versus just $1,645 a year per refugee claimant. The “1,000%” growth claim is simply false: costs grew from $211 million in 2020–21 to $896 million in 2024–25 — an increase of approximately 325%, not 1,000%. Costs grew because asylum claim volumes increased and processing backlogs extended the amount of time claimants had to wait for a decision on their case – not because benefits expanded. Asylum claim referrals have already dropped over 43% from 2024 to 2025 — from 190,483 to 108,060. The Parliamentary Budget Officer projects annual cost growth of the IFHP will slow from 33.7% to 11.2% going forward – without any cuts to coverage.

(3) CLAIM: “The IFHP provides deluxe benefits that Canadians don’t get”
VERDICT: False

IRCC’s own program description states IFHP supplemental coverage is comparable to benefits available to low-income Canadians on provincial social assistance — the same level of dental, vision, and prescription coverage as someone on Ontario Works. The claim that asylum seekers receive better care than Canadians lacks any defined comparator and is contradicted by IRCC’s program design. Canada recently launched a national dental care plan precisely because gaps in supplemental coverage hurt low-income Canadians – the answer to that gap is expanding access, not stripping it from refugees.

(4) CLAIM: “Money is being diverted from Canadian health care to refugees”
VERDICT: False

The IFHP is federally funded and entirely separate from provincial health budgets. Cutting it does not free up a single dollar for family doctors or specialist care. What it does do is shift costs — when refugees forgo preventive care and end up in emergency rooms, those costs download onto the very provincial health systems the Conservatives claim to be protecting.

(5) CLAIM: “6 million Canadians can’t find a family doctor because of asylum seekers”
VERDICT: False – causation not established

The OurCare Survey 2025, conducted by St. Michael’s Hospital in partnership with the Canadian Medical Association, found 5.9 million Canadians lack access to a regular primary care provider – but asylum seekers are not the cause. The Canadian Medical Association has documented a deficit of 22,823 family physicians driven by decades of underfunding and inadequate workforce planning. The IFHP is a separate federal program with no connection to provincial budgets that fund family doctors. Asylum seekers make up less than 1% of Canada’s population. Cutting their health care will not free up a single spot on a patient waitlist.

(6) CLAIM: “It takes 30 weeks for the average Canadian to see a specialist”
VERDICT: Mischaracterized metric

The widely cited figure measures median wait time from GP referral all the way to treatment completion — not time to see a specialist. The most recent data puts this figure at 28.6 weeks for 2025. More importantly, this has no relationship whatsoever to refugee health coverage. The IFHP is federally funded and is entirely separate from provincial health budgets. Cutting it will not reduce wait times by a single day.

(7) CLAIM: “Most asylum claimants are bogus”
VERDICT: False

In 2025, 63% of finalized refugee claims were accepted by Canada’s own legal system. Nearly a third of appeals at the Refugee Appeal Division are granted — meaning the system itself regularly finds that initial rejections were wrong.

(8) CLAIM: “Rejected claimants unfairly continue receiving benefits”
VERDICT: Misleading

Rejected claimants remain covered only while exhausting their legal right to appeal – a right that exists because the system makes errors that require correction, as evidenced by the high number of appeals that are successful. There are currently approximately 300,000 pending claims before the IRB. Both the PBO and IRCC identify this backlog as a primary cost driver. The solution is faster, fairer processing – not stripping health care while people wait increasingly longer to get a decision.

(9) CLAIM: “Asylum seekers have never paid taxes”
VERDICT: False

Asylum seekers have work permits and those that work pay income tax, HST, and payroll deductions – the same as any Canadian worker. All refugee claimants pay HST on every purchase.

(10) ON THE PROVIDER BILLING CLAIM

Some Conservative messaging has claimed providers charge up to five times provincial rates under the IFHP. This claim is disputed in Parliamentary committee testimony – IRCC officials state the IFHP uses fee schedules aligned with provincial rates. Where billing irregularities exist, the appropriate response is targeted audits of those providing care, not punishing the people receiving care.

(11) CUTS WILL COST MORE, NOT LESS

Creating financial barriers to treatment for communicable diseases — including tuberculosis, HIV, and hepatitis — poses risks beyond refugee communities. As the HIV Legal Network and HIV & AIDS Legal Clinic Ontario have warned, reduced treatment uptake increases transmission and the likelihood of outbreaks, undermining public health for all Canadians.

(12) THE LEGAL PRECEDENT

In 2012, the Harper government made similar cuts to the IFHP. A peer-reviewed study documented increased emergency room costs as hospitals absorbed care that had been withdrawn. The Federal Court struck the cuts down as “cruel and unusual treatment” — a violation of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. The cuts were reversed. The current co-payment policy faces the same constitutional vulnerability.

India: Kerala Health Authorities plan large-scale HIV awareness drive and medical camp

Campaign to address health concerns among migrant workers

A recent spike in reported HIV cases in and around Perumbavoor in Ernakulam district has drawn renewed attention to healthcare challenges among migrant workers. As many as 15 people tested HIV-positive in the area over the past few months.

While the workers who tested HIV-positive are currently undergoing treatment, the emergence of these cases has highlighted the urgent need to address broader healthcare gaps within the migrant community.

In an effort to address the emerging concerns, the Health department, along with the Kerala State AIDS Control Society (KSACS), is jointly organising a mega awareness programme and medical camp on February 22, 2026.

The day will also mark the launch of Niramaya Pravas 2026, a campaign spearheaded by the KSACS in collaboration with various government departments. The initiative focuses on promoting the overall health and well-being of migrant workers across the State.

According to Reshmi Madhavan, joint director, KSACS, health challenges continue to remain a matter of concern among the migrant community. “It is observed that their priority is employment. Health figures as an area of least priority. We need to bring them into the ambit of healthcare with due diligence,” Ms. Madhavan said. According to her, the focus should be on empowering the community to seek medical help when faced with an illness, be it a sexually transmitted disease or any other disease.

“The focus is on creating awareness among the community, getting them medical help and preventing the spread of diseases. Hence, we are planning intensive campaigns across the State targeting the community,” said Ms. Madhavan.

One of the main challenges faced by the department is keeping track of members of the migrant community, officials said. “It has been observed that their focus is on staying employed. So even when diagnosed with a disease, they do not return for follow-up treatment. When we try to track them, they would have moved to other locations for work. The absence of proper registers and documentation is proving to be a challenge,” said Dr. Rosamma P.S., Medical Superintendent, Government Taluk Hospital, Perumbavoor.

Perumbavoor municipal chairperson K.N. Sangeetha said that regular medical camps would also be held to address the healthcare challenges of the region.

Displaced populations face unique health challenges and barriers

Refugee and Migrant Health: Protecting Vulnerable People on the Move

Amina fled Syria in 2015 with her three children after bombs destroyed their neighborhood in Aleppo. The harrowing journey to Europe took three months—traveling by foot, crowded trucks, and a dangerous boat crossing where several fellow passengers drowned. When her family finally reached a refugee camp in Greece, Amina thought their ordeal was over. Instead, new health challenges began. Her youngest daughter developed chronic diarrhea from contaminated water in the overcrowded camp. Her son’s asthma worsened from sleeping in a cold, damp tent with no medication available. Amina herself struggled with severe depression and anxiety from trauma, displacement, and uncertainty about their future. Healthcare at the camp was overwhelmed—one doctor for 5,000 refugees, minimal medicines, no mental health services, and no treatment for chronic diseases.

Amina’s family represents a fraction of the approximately 100 million forcibly displaced people worldwide—the highest number ever recorded. This includes refugees fleeing persecution, conflict, or violence, internally displaced persons forced from homes but remaining within their countries, asylum seekers awaiting refugee status determination, and stateless persons without nationality from any country. Beyond forcibly displaced populations, an additional 280 million international migrants live outside their birth countries for economic opportunities, family reunification, education, or other reasons.

According to the World Health Organization, refugees and migrants often face particular health challenges and barriers to accessing healthcare. While refugees and migrants are not inherently less healthy than host populations—many are young, healthy individuals—the circumstances surrounding migration can create health vulnerabilities. WHO emphasizes that ensuring refugees’ and migrants’ health is important not only for their wellbeing but also for public health and social cohesion in host communities. Health challenges include infectious disease risks from overcrowding in camps, inadequate water and sanitation, interrupted vaccination schedules, and limited access to treatment; noncommunicable disease management disrupted by displacement; maternal and child health vulnerabilities; mental health problems from trauma, violence, loss, and ongoing uncertainty; and injuries from dangerous journeys and violence.

Understanding Refugee and Migrant Populations

Refugees and migrants comprise diverse populations with different legal statuses and health needs. Refugees are people fleeing persecution, conflict, violence, or human rights violations who have crossed international borders and cannot return safely. They’re protected under international law with specific rights including access to healthcare. The global refugee crisis has escalated dramatically—in 2023, over 36 million people were refugees, the highest number recorded. Syria, Afghanistan, South Sudan, Myanmar, and Ukraine produce the largest refugee populations.

Internally displaced persons (IDPs) are forced from homes by conflict, violence, disasters, or persecution but remain within their countries’ borders. They number approximately 62 million globally, often facing similar health challenges as refugees but lacking international protection. Asylum seekers are people who have applied for refugee status and await decisions. During this period, they face legal uncertainties affecting healthcare access. Migrants broadly include anyone moving across borders temporarily or permanently for work, education, family reunification, or better opportunities. While migration can be voluntary, many “economic migrants” face desperate circumstances including poverty, climate change impacts, and limited opportunities pushing them to seek better lives elsewhere.

Like maternal health and newborn health requiring specialized approaches for vulnerable populations, refugee and migrant health demands understanding unique circumstances and needs.

Health Challenges During Migration

The migration journey itself creates significant health risks. Dangerous travel routes including desert crossings causing dehydration and heat exposure, sea crossings on overcrowded, unseaworthy boats risking drowning, walking long distances causing injuries and exhaustion, and traveling in crowded, poorly ventilated vehicles spreading infectious diseases all threaten health. Many migrants face violence during journeys including robbery, assault, sexual violence (particularly affecting women and children), trafficking and exploitation, and violence from smugglers or border enforcement.

Environmental exposures harm health through extreme temperatures without adequate shelter or clothing, inadequate food and water causing malnutrition and dehydration, and exposure to disease vectors like mosquitoes in areas with malaria or other diseases. Interrupted healthcare causes medication disruptions for people with chronic diseases like diabetes, hypertension, or HIV losing access to essential medications, missed vaccinations leaving children vulnerable to preventable diseases, and lack of prenatal care for pregnant women risking complications.

Mental health impacts include trauma from violence, loss of family members, and witnessing atrocities, chronic stress from ongoing uncertainty and danger, grief and loss of homes, communities, and familiar lives, and fear about future prospects and family safety. These psychological impacts can manifest as depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and other mental health conditions requiring treatment often unavailable during migration.

Health Risks in Camps and Settlements

Refugee camps and settlements, while providing temporary safety, often create new health challenges. Overcrowding with thousands living in cramped conditions facilitates infectious disease transmission including respiratory infections like pneumonia and tuberculosis spreading rapidly in crowded shelters, diarrheal diseases from inadequate sanitation, and vaccine-preventable diseases like measles and pertussis causing outbreaks in undervaccinated populations.

Inadequate water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) creates disease risks through contaminated water sources causing cholera, typhoid, and diarrheal diseases, insufficient sanitation facilities spreading fecal-oral diseases, and limited hygiene supplies preventing proper handwashing and menstrual hygiene. Food insecurity and malnutrition result from insufficient food rations causing undernutrition, monotonous diets lacking essential nutrients causing micronutrient deficiencies, and distribution challenges preventing fair access.

Limited healthcare services mean overburdened health facilities cannot meet population needs, insufficient health workers to provide adequate care, medication shortages particularly for chronic diseases, and minimal specialized services like mental health care, chronic disease management, or surgical capacity. Inadequate shelter through tents or temporary structures providing insufficient protection from weather, lack of heating in cold climates, poor ventilation facilitating disease transmission, and fire risks from cooking and heating in crowded conditions all compromise health.

Violence and safety concerns include gender-based violence affecting women and girls, child protection issues including family separation and exploitation, and insecurity within camps from conflicts or criminal activity. Like challenges in occupational health, refugee camp health risks require systematic environmental improvements.

Barriers to Healthcare Access

Even when healthcare services exist in host countries, refugees and migrants face multiple access barriers. Legal and administrative obstacles include unclear legal status affecting healthcare entitlements, documentation requirements that refugees/migrants cannot meet, and administrative complexity navigating unfamiliar health systems. Financial barriers involve lack of health insurance or ineligibility for public coverage, inability to afford out-of-pocket healthcare costs, and poverty limiting ability to pay for medicines or transportation to facilities.

Language and cultural barriers mean inability to communicate with healthcare providers, unfamiliarity with host country health systems and how to access care, cultural differences in understanding illness and treatment, and mistrust of authorities stemming from past persecution or negative experiences. Geographic barriers include living in remote areas far from health facilities, lack of transportation to reach healthcare services, and settlement in areas with inadequate health infrastructure.

Discrimination and xenophobia create hostile environments through stigma and discrimination against refugees/migrants in healthcare settings, fear of deportation preventing care-seeking, and racism affecting quality of care received. Knowledge gaps result from limited information about available health services, unawareness of rights to healthcare, and lack of health education in languages refugees/migrants understand.

Like primary health care access gaps generally, refugee and migrant healthcare barriers require systematic solutions addressing multiple levels.

Health Interventions and Solutions

Addressing refugee and migrant health requires comprehensive approaches. Emergency health services in camps and settlements should provide basic healthcare through primary care facilities, emergency treatment, and mobile clinics reaching remote populations. Essential interventions include immunization campaigns preventing outbreaks, nutritional support addressing malnutrition, maternal and child health services, and infectious disease surveillance and control.

WASH improvements ensure safe water supply, adequate sanitation facilities, hygiene promotion and supplies, and environmental sanitation reducing disease transmission. Mental health and psychosocial support through counseling services, psychological first aid training for healthcare workers and community members, support groups for trauma survivors, and culturally appropriate mental health interventions address psychological needs.

Healthcare access in host countries requires inclusive health policies ensuring refugees/migrants can access essential healthcare, affordable or subsidized healthcare reducing financial barriers, language services through interpreters and translated materials, and culturally competent care respecting diverse backgrounds. Health system strengthening involves increasing capacity to serve refugee/migrant populations, training healthcare workers in refugee health and cultural competency, integrating refugee/migrant health into national health systems, and ensuring continuity of care for chronic diseases.

Community engagement empowers refugee/migrant communities through participatory approaches in health program design, community health workers from refugee/migrant communities providing culturally appropriate care, health education in relevant languages addressing specific needs, and addressing social determinants of health including housing, education, and employment. Like One Health requiring cross-sectoral collaboration, refugee health demands coordinated humanitarian and development responses.

Amina’s Progress

Five years after arriving in Greece, Amina’s family resettled in Germany through a refugee resettlement program. Access to comprehensive healthcare transformed their lives. Her daughter’s chronic diarrhea was properly diagnosed and treated. Her son received asthma medications and an inhaler, controlling his symptoms. Amina received mental health counseling and treatment for depression and PTSD. The family enrolled in German language classes and health education programs teaching them to navigate the healthcare system.

“Having access to healthcare made us feel human again,” Amina reflects. “In the camp, we were just surviving day to day, dealing with illness after illness without proper treatment. Here, we can see doctors when we’re sick, get medications we need, and address our mental health. My children can grow up healthy. This should be available to all refugees—healthcare is a human right, not a privilege.”

Dr. Hassan, who provides healthcare to refugee populations, emphasizes: “Refugees and migrants face extraordinary health challenges from dangerous journeys, trauma, displacement, crowded camps, and barriers accessing care. Yet with appropriate support, they’re resilient populations who recover, contribute to host societies, and thrive. Ensuring refugee and migrant health requires recognizing healthcare as a human right, providing emergency health services in camps and during transit, including refugees and migrants in national health systems, addressing social determinants like housing and employment, combating discrimination and xenophobia, supporting mental health and psychosocial needs, and engaging communities in health programs. Protecting refugee and migrant health isn’t just humanitarian obligation—it benefits public health and social cohesion in host communities. When we invest in refugee and migrant health, we build healthier, more inclusive societies benefiting everyone.”

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q1: What health challenges do refugees and migrants face?

Refugees and migrants face multiple health challenges: (1) Journey-related risks—dangerous routes causing injuries, violence including assault and trafficking, environmental exposures (extreme temperatures, inadequate food/water), interrupted healthcare for chronic diseases; (2) Camp/settlement conditions—overcrowding spreading infectious diseases, inadequate water/sanitation causing diarrheal diseases, food insecurity and malnutrition, limited healthcare services, inadequate shelter; (3) Mental health—trauma from violence and loss, chronic stress from uncertainty, PTSD, depression, anxiety; (4) Infectious diseases—respiratory infections, tuberculosis, vaccine-preventable diseases from interrupted immunization, diarrheal diseases; (5) Chronic disease management disruptions for diabetes, hypertension, HIV; (6) Maternal/child health vulnerabilities—lack of prenatal care, child malnutrition, interrupted vaccinations. While refugees/migrants aren’t inherently less healthy than host populations, migration circumstances create vulnerabilities requiring specific interventions.

Q2: Do refugees and migrants bring diseases to host countries?

This is a common misconception. Evidence shows refugees and migrants don’t pose greater infectious disease risks to host populations than local residents. Most infectious disease transmission occurs within communities, not from refugees/migrants introducing new diseases. Refugees/migrants are screened for communicable diseases during resettlement. Health challenges refugees face primarily affect them, not host populations. When outbreaks occur in camps (measles, cholera), they’re contained through vaccination and treatment. Some refugees/migrants may have diseases like tuberculosis or hepatitis from high-prevalence origin countries, but these don’t spread easily and are managed through screening and treatment. Public health benefits from ensuring refugee/migrant health through preventing disease spread in camps, providing vaccination protecting whole communities, and addressing conditions before they worsen. Discrimination based on unfounded disease transmission fears harms individuals and public health.

Q3: What barriers prevent refugees and migrants from accessing healthcare?

Multiple barriers limit healthcare access: (1) Legal/administrative—unclear legal status affecting entitlements, documentation requirements refugees/migrants can’t meet, complexity navigating unfamiliar systems; (2) Financial—lack of insurance or public coverage eligibility, inability to afford out-of-pocket costs, poverty limiting access; (3) Language/cultural—inability to communicate with providers, unfamiliarity with health systems, cultural differences in understanding illness, mistrust of authorities; (4) Geographic—living far from facilities, lack of transportation, settlement in areas with inadequate infrastructure; (5) Discrimination—stigma in healthcare settings, fear of deportation, racism affecting care quality; (6) Knowledge gaps—limited information about available services, unawareness of healthcare rights, lack of health education in appropriate languages. Addressing these requires inclusive policies, affordable care, language services, culturally competent providers, and community engagement.

Q4: How can healthcare systems better serve refugee and migrant populations?

Healthcare systems can improve refugee/migrant health through: (1) Inclusive policies ensuring refugees/migrants can access essential healthcare regardless of legal status; (2) Affordable care through subsidized services, insurance coverage, or eliminating out-of-pocket costs for essential services; (3) Language services providing professional interpreters and translated health materials; (4) Culturally competent care training providers in refugee health issues, cultural sensitivity, and trauma-informed approaches; (5) System navigation support helping refugees/migrants understand and access healthcare; (6) Integration into national health systems rather than parallel services; (7) Chronic disease management ensuring continuity of care for ongoing conditions; (8) Mental health services addressing trauma, depression, anxiety with culturally appropriate approaches; (9) Community health workers from refugee/migrant communities bridging cultural/linguistic gaps; (10) Addressing social determinants including housing, education, employment affecting health. Like ensuring quality of caregenerally, serving refugees/migrants requires systematic approaches.

Q5: What can be done to improve health in refugee camps?

Improving refugee camp health requires: (1) WASH improvements—safe water supply, adequate sanitation facilities, hygiene promotion and supplies, waste management; (2) Adequate healthcare—sufficient health facilities and staff, essential medicines including chronic disease medications, emergency treatment capacity, referral systems for complex cases; (3) Vaccination programs preventing outbreaks of measles, polio, other vaccine-preventable diseases; (4) Nutrition support—adequate food rations with nutritional diversity, supplementary feeding for malnourished children, micronutrient supplementation; (5) Mental health services—counseling, psychological support, trauma-informed care, community-based psychosocial programs; (6) Reduced overcrowding—adequate space per person, proper shelter with weather protection, safe cooking facilities; (7) Safety and protection—preventing gender-based violence, child protection, security within camps; (8) Health education—disease prevention, hygiene practices, nutrition, available services; (9) Community participation—engaging refugees in health program design and implementation. Well-managed camps significantly reduce health risks, though permanent solutions through resettlement or return remain goals.

Focus Key Phrase: Refugee migrant health challenges healthcare access displacement camps

Meta Description: 100 million displaced people worldwide face unique health challenges—learn about refugee and migrant health risks from dangerous journeys, camp conditions, healthcare barriers, mental health trauma, and solutions for inclusive care.

References

  1. World Health Organization. (2024). Refugee and migrant health. Retrieved from https://www.who.int/health-topics/refugee-and-migrant-health
  2. World Health Organization. (2024). Refugee and migrant health – Fact Sheet. Retrieved from https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/refugee-and-migrant-health
  3. UNHCR. (2024). Global Trends: Forced Displacement. Retrieved from https://www.unhcr.org/global-trends
  4. Observer Voice. Maternal Health: Protecting Mothers and Saving Lives. Retrieved from https://observervoice.com/maternal-health-protecting-mothers-saving-lives/
  5. Observer Voice. Newborn Health: Protecting Babies in Their First 28 Days. Retrieved from https://observervoice.com/newborn-health-protecting-babies-first-28-days/
  6. Observer Voice. Malaria: Prevention and Treatment. Retrieved from https://observervoice.com/malaria-prevention-treatment/

 

India: Mobility hampers HIV treatment follow-up among migrant labourers in Kerala

HIV cases in Perumbavoor guest workers

Kochi: After a rise in drug-related issues sparked tensions between locals and migrant labourers in Perumbavoor, there is now concern about health department’s difficulty in tracking guest workers, who tested positive for HIV in the last few months, and provide them with treatment. Wrong mobile numbers and addresses and frequent movement within the state due to the nature of work pose hurdles in tracking them.

Health department decided to conduct a field visit to Perumbavoor and Kerala State Aids Control Society (KSACS) will convene a meeting with govt departments such as police, excise, labour and local bodies to chalk out a plan to address the issue.

Data with health department shows that about 26% of those who tested HIV-positive in Perumbavoor area in the past few months were guest workers. The random testing was conducted through Perumbavoor taluk hospital.

Although the department is reluctant to share the total number of people tested and how many turned positive, officials said their real concern was migrant labour. The percentage may not appear alarming, as migrant labour testing HIV-positive is only 1/4th the total number of people who tested positive in Perumbavoor. However, the real worry is different: the migrant population is floating, and health officials are concerned because they are unable to trace many HIV-positive guest workers. Hence, timely intervention has become difficult.

Health officials realised that in most cases, the addresses provided are fake, making it difficult to track them in their home state too. “We are compiling data regarding all HIV cases in the area, including the latest test results,” said a KSACS official.

“By the time we get detailed test results, we fear the infected guest worker would leave here. Attempts to trace them using the phone numbers or address given by them often reach a dead end. We learned that some of them even possess multiple Aadhaar cards,” he added.

Even if addresses are genuine, tracking them isn’t easy. “Their mobility makes it difficult to trace them. Due to the nature of their work, they move from one place to another within days. In some cases, they leave the state. In such cases, we have to seek the support of National Aids Control Organization (NACO),” said another KSACS official.

Although state govt instructed labour and home departments to prepare a registry of guest workers more than four years ago, the work remains incomplete. Labour department was supposed to issue digital ID cards through Athithi portal, but the process is still halfway. Local bodies and health departments are supposed to conduct inspections at the accommodation facilities of guest workers, but they rarely do it.

Health department plans to seek district administration’s support for coordination with various govt departments in the district. The plan is to assign specific targets for each department.

 

Spain: Regularisation of migrants expected to improve HIV diagnosis and prevention

AI translation – Scroll down for article in Spanish

Cesida emphasizes that the extraordinary regularization of migrants will improve their real access to public health

The State Coordinator of HIV and AIDS (Cesida) has applauded the implementation of the procedures for an extraordinary administrative regularization that will affect more than half a million migrants living in Spain. The organization believes that this measure will allow real access to the health system and will help leave behind a situation of structural exclusion with a direct impact on their health and quality of life.

Cesida highlights the relevance of this initiative in the context of the response to the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Ordinary access to health makes it possible to advance in the diagnosis, treatment and implementation of combined prevention strategies, including pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) and post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP).

The entity has insisted that a health system that aspires to be truly universal must prioritize care for people in the most vulnerable situations, including those at high risk of acquiring HIV.

In this line, Cesida stressed that administrative exclusion not only implies a violation of rights, but also weakens public health policies and the capacity for collective response to the epidemic.

The Venezuelan migrant with HIV and member of the Cesida executive Jesús Cisneros has valued the positive impact of regularization for “all these people who have found themselves for years working in a submerged economy and living in a rather precarious way.”

Likewise, he has asked to continue advancing rules of this type and speed up administrative procedures, since, as he has pointed out, these people come to Spain on many occasions “because their life depends on it, they depend on HIV medication to continue living.”

The Cesida entities that work with the migrant population have already been activated to support the management of this regularization, providing information, social support and legal advice to people who may benefit from the process.

The State Coordinator of HIV and AIDS has also demanded to pay attention to the administrative deadlines and requirements that continue to condition access to health care. Specifically, he pointed out that the times linked to registration, whose resolution period can be extended up to three months, continue to be an element that can significantly delay effective access to health.

Cesida subraya que la regularización extraordinaria de migrantes mejorará su acceso real a la sanidad pública

La Coordinadora Estatal de VIH y sida (Cesida) ha aplaudido la puesta en marcha de los trámites para una regularización administrativa extraordinaria que afectará a más de medio millón de personas migrantes residentes en España. La organización considera que esta medida permitirá un acceso real al sistema sanitario y ayudará a dejar atrás una situación de exclusión estructural con impacto directo en su salud y en su calidad de vida.

Desde Cesida se remarca la relevancia de esta iniciativa en el marco de la respuesta frente al virus de la inmunodeficiencia humana (VIH). El acceso ordinario a la sanidad posibilita avanzar en el diagnóstico, el tratamiento y la implementación de estrategias de prevención combinada, entre ellas la profilaxis preexposición (PrEP) y la profilaxis posexposición (PEP).

La entidad ha insistido en que un sistema sanitario que aspire a ser verdaderamente universal debe priorizar la atención a las personas en situación de mayor vulnerabilidad, incluidas aquellas con un riesgo elevado de adquirir el VIH.

En esta línea, Cesida ha recalcado que la exclusión administrativa no solo implica una vulneración de derechos, sino que también debilita las políticas de salud pública y la capacidad de respuesta colectiva ante la epidemia.

El migrante venezolano con VIH y miembro de la ejecutiva de Cesida Jesús Cisneros ha puesto en valor el impacto positivo de la regularización para “todas estas personas que se han encontrado durante años trabajando en una economía sumergida y viviendo de una manera bastante precaria”.

Asimismo, ha pedido seguir avanzando en normas de este tipo y acelerar los procedimientos administrativos, ya que, tal y como ha señalado, estas personas llegan a España en muchas ocasiones “porque su vida depende de ello, dependen de la medicación del VIH para seguir viviendo”.

Las entidades de Cesida que trabajan con población migrante ya se han activado para apoyar la gestión de esta regularización, proporcionando información, acompañamiento social y asesoramiento jurídico a las personas que puedan verse beneficiadas por el proceso.

La Coordinadora Estatal de VIH y sida ha reclamado además prestar atención a los plazos y requisitos administrativos que continúan condicionando el acceso a la atención sanitaria. En concreto, ha señalado que los tiempos vinculados al empadronamiento, cuyo plazo de resolución puede alargarse hasta tres meses, siguen siendo un elemento que puede demorar de forma notable el acceso efectivo a la salud.

Taiwan: CDC planning to expand eligibility for publicly funded HIV treatment for foreign nationals

The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) is planning to expand eligibility for publicly funded HIV treatment for foreign nationals next year, although it has not released many details on how the expansion would work.

CDC Director-General Lo Yi-chun (羅一鈞) told a press event on Monday last week that subsidy regulations are being revised and eligibility for publicly funded treatment for foreign residents would be expanded.

Lo at the time said the expansion would initially prioritize foreign nationals holding permanent residency and those under 18, but he offered no other details.

When the CDC was asked later in the week about how many more foreign nationals would become eligible for publicly funded treatment, it said it was still assessing the potential impact and “has no clear figure yet.”

Under its existing support program, the CDC covers costs for an HIV patient’s first two years on medication, after which expenses are covered by the National Health Insurance (NHI) system.

As of late last month, 36,494 Taiwanese and 615 foreign nationals in Taiwan were living with HIV, the CDC said in a written response on Friday.

Of the 615 foreign nationals, 343 were already covered under NHI, while the others have been on medication for less than two years and were not yet eligible for NHI coverage, although some have received financial help in other ways.

Patients are currently treated with highly active antiretroviral therapy, commonly known as “cocktail therapy” combining at least two to three antiretroviral drugs, with monthly medication costs capped at under NT$13,200.

At the news conference on Monday last week, Lo said the enrollment quota for the publicly funded HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) program would also be increased next year, to 9,500 people, from 8,000 this year.

The program, designed to prevent the incidence of HIV, is open to Taiwanese and foreign spouses of Taiwanese who meet the criteria and are assessed by physicians, the CDC said.

Lo said Taiwan would record about 850 new HIV cases this year, the lowest level since 2003 and down about 11 to 12 percent from last year, in part because of the PrEP program.

Kazakhstan: Healthcare access for documented and undocumented migrants in Kazakhstan

Translated with Deepl.com. For original article in Russian, please scroll down.

According to the UN, the health of migrants is a human right, not a factor for discrimination. Various international organisations are calling on countries to provide universal health coverage regardless of status, as migrants are often even more vulnerable than the local population to infections, injuries, mental disorders (stress, anxiety) and have special needs that must be taken into account in policies under the Global Compact on Migration. A Kazinform correspondent investigated the state of migrant health care in Kazakhstan.

As of autumn 2025, more than 14,000 foreign citizens are officially working in Kazakhstan, with figures varying: on 1 October there were 14,666 people, and on 1 November there were more than 14,400; The quota for attracting foreign workers in 2025 has been increased to 19,400.

Migrants in Kazakhstan are entitled to various types of medical care, depending on their legal status. Persons with residence permits and kandasy can receive full free medical care (GOBMP) and, upon payment of contributions, services under the compulsory medical insurance system (OSMS). Foreigners temporarily staying in the country are entitled to free emergency and urgent medical care.

Emir from Tajikistan is a doctor by training. He initially ended up in Kazakhstan because he wanted to obtain a visa to Europe through a local company for seasonal field work in order to earn money. But the company deceived him, so Emir decided that it was for the best and that he could officially work in his profession in Kazakhstan.

Emir obtained a work permit, and he tries to take care of his health and get medical check-ups whenever possible. Emir is lucky: he lives and works in Kazakhstan legally, so he can afford to enjoy all the benefits available to foreigners with a temporary residence permit (TRP) or a residence permit (RP).

But what about those who are migrants in Kazakhstan but outside the legal framework?

Anna Kozlova is a migration consultant at the non-governmental organisation Community Friends. Her main focus is on helping foreigners who find themselves in an illegal situation, either deliberately or through circumstances beyond their control.

“From our experience, I can say that Kazakhstan’s legislation is quite loyal to migrants, especially compared to other post-Soviet countries. We have access to medical care and treatment for illnesses. This attracts a large number of migrants to the country. But the problem is that not all of them end up working officially. Only migrants who are legally in the country can enjoy all the benefits. People who are here illegally cannot count on anything, except perhaps the kindness of Kazakhstani people who will help them,” said Anna Kozlova.

In practice, there are cases where people find themselves hostage to bureaucracy. Anna told the story of a woman from Kyrgyzstan who crossed the Kazakh border 10 years ago with a bag of heroin.

She was detained in Kazakhstan, sentenced to 10 years in prison, and released on parole after seven years. Parole requires that a person not only be firmly committed to rehabilitation, but also have a place to live, where they can register and be monitored by law enforcement agencies, and have the opportunity to find employment, because there are lawsuits, and because that is what is required for resocialisation.

In this case, a citizen of another country is released on parole, but she has no opportunity to obtain a temporary residence permit as a migrant in order to legally stay here, serve the remainder of her sentence, find employment and live, because she has already served seven years of her sentence.

But the problem is that the court has sentenced her to five more years of supervision, which means that after her sentence ends, she must remain in Kazakhstan for another five years under the supervision of law enforcement agencies. And then she becomes pregnant. She came to me in her seventh month of pregnancy. When she gave birth, we thought that since she had served her sentence, we would be able to send her back to her homeland with her child. But the migration service and the prosecutor’s office said they had no right to ignore the court’s decision on five years of supervision. Even though she cannot find a job, receive benefits, free medical care for herself or her child, or vaccinations. I was told to apply to the court through the Kyrgyz embassy to have the supervision order revoked, and only then would we be able to send her back to her homeland. For now, she is staying at the Mother’s House and her status is in limbo: she is illegal because she cannot obtain a temporary residence permit, but she is also legal because she is under supervision, said Anna Kozlova.

How migrants’ illnesses are treated in Kazakhstan

Getting checked for certain illnesses is very important. However, not every migrant is willing or able to do this on a regular basis, especially when it comes to HIV testing.

As part of a special programme called ‘Migrant Health’, implemented by private public foundations, a goal was set to expand the model of HIV prevention among migrants.

The project covered almost two thousand migrants, of whom 85 were found to be HIV-positive. In other words, 90% of those covered were HIV-negative, while 10% were HIV-positive. Most of the migrants were from Tajikistan (25%), Uzbekistan (22%) and Kyrgyzstan (17%), with returnees accounting for 30% of the total.

Key populations accounted for 82% of the total number of people covered, while non-key populations accounted for 18%. It should be noted that the project did not check whether these people had previously been registered as HIV-positive in their home countries, or whether they were previously unaware of their status, or whether they became infected while in Kazakhstan.

Be that as it may, the results showed that in order to preserve the health of migrants, it is necessary not only to shift responsibility onto them, but also to take measures on the other side.

What is available to migrants with HIV in Kazakhstan

Foreigners with HIV in Kazakhstan are not legally entitled to free ARV therapy if they are in the country temporarily, as it is part of the guaranteed free medical care for citizens and kandas. However, thanks to the support of the Global Fund and NGOs, such people are provided with medication and counselling through special programmes, such as PEP (post-exposure prophylaxis), so that they can receive treatment and continue therapy, sometimes with legal support.

Samir, a 27-year-old migrant from Tajikistan, learned about his HIV status by contacting the Migrant Health 2 project in Kazakhstan. He thought the diagnosis meant the end of a normal life, but peer counsellors (people who have lived with the disease themselves) helped him understand that HIV is treatable and that U=U: with treatment, the virus is not transmissible.

Because foreigners in Kazakhstan cannot receive ARV therapy, the project team registered Samir remotely with the AIDS centre in Tajikistan: he took tests in Kazakhstan, received consultations online, and the medicines were delivered to his place of work.

When it became clear that his wife was pregnant, the project helped to conduct testing, maintaining confidentiality, and the test was negative.

After three months of treatment, Samir’s viral load became undetectable. He remained healthy and protected his family.

Why is HIV treatment important for everyone? Firstly, to control the disease. HIV is well controlled today: people who receive treatment live normal lives. Secondly, it is necessary to achieve zero transmission. Modern therapy reduces the amount of virus in the blood to zero. This means that the health of a person with HIV does not deteriorate, and the person does not transmit HIV to others. It is also important to stop the epidemic. When all people living with HIV — locals, migrants and relocants — receive treatment, the epidemic slows down and stops. Providing treatment to migrants is not only a matter of humanity, but also an effective public health measure, said Oksana Ibragimova, an advocacy specialist at the Kazakh Union of People Living with HIV.

She is convinced that treating HIV, as well as other diseases among migrants, protects society, as migrants are part of society; they work, study and start families. Their health directly affects the health of local communities.

However, restrictions and deportation of HIV-positive migrants, she said, do not stop the epidemic: people continue to move, and the lack of treatment is the main factor in the spread of HIV.

In addition, prohibitive measures create fear and lead to people avoiding testing and help, which increases the number of undetected cases. The most effective approach is to ensure access to treatment: a person on therapy does not transmit the virus, which means that this is the most effective way to protect public health.

Thanks to the conditions created by the state and the activities of public figures, migrants with HIV-positive status in Kazakhstan can not only receive advice on access to treatment in Kazakhstan, but also referrals for testing at the AIDS Centre at the expense of public funds, as well as assistance in obtaining therapy (from their home country, at the expense of the GFSMT quota, issuance from a mutual aid first aid kit), peer-to-peer support to start treatment and maintain adherence.

What else can migrants be treated for in Kazakhstan

If a migrant is in Kazakhstan legally, i.e. has a temporary residence permit or permanent residence permit, they are entitled to medical assistance under medical insurance if they have made contributions.

If a foreigner is in the country legally but is not working, then in the event of illness, they will be offered two options: to return home for treatment or to pay for treatment in Kazakhstan.

I had a case with a girl from Afghanistan who was living here legally with her husband — he was working, and she had a temporary residence permit as a family reunion, but she had not made any contributions because she was not working here. One day, she was diagnosed with tuberculosis and admitted to hospital. The open form of tuberculosis was treated, and then she had to either be sent back to her home country to complete her treatment or pay for it here. They wanted to send her to Afghanistan, but with our help, we managed to get permission for her to stay, and her husband paid for her treatment,” Kozlova explained.

The health of migrant children in Kazakhstan

Migrant children, like adults, face certain restrictions.

For example, if a migrant child needs to be vaccinated, they have to go to private medical centres if their parents are staying in Kazakhstan illegally or semi-legally. The same problem applies to their education.

‘In some places, doctors make concessions and examine these children. Teachers make concessions in schools because they understand that the children are hanging around, and they take them in for education, figuring something out there. But if migrants are in the country illegally, then according to the law, their children cannot count on anything either,’ concluded Anna Kozlova.

As we can see, if a foreigner comes to Kazakhstan, lives and works here legally, they have good opportunities for social security, including health care.

However, in the case of illegal status, the situation becomes more complicated, and only with the support of competent consultants and in close contact with the authorised state bodies is it possible to solve problems on an individual basis.

Experts believe that maintaining the health of everyone in Kazakhstan is not just a matter of image, but also a direct contribution to the epidemic well-being and health protection of society.

As a reminder, the new rules for registering immigrants in Kazakhstan will come into force on 1 July 2026.

Легально и нелегально: какие медуслуги доступны мигрантам в Казахстане

По данным ООН, здоровье мигрантов — это право человека, а не фактор дискриминации. Различные международные организации призывают страны ко всеобщему охвату услугами здравоохранения без учета статуса, так как мигранты нередко даже больше местного населения подвержены риску инфекций, травм, психических расстройств (стресс, тревога) и имеют особые потребности, которые должны учитываться в политике, в рамках Глобального договора по миграции. О том, как обстоят дела с охраной здоровья мигрантов в Казахстане, узнавал корреспондент Kazinform.

По состоянию на осень 2025 года, в Казахстане официально работают более 14 тысяч иностранных граждан, причем цифры варьируются: на 1 октября было 14 666 человек, а на 1 ноября — более 14,4 тысячи; квота на привлечение ИРС в 2025 году увеличена до 19,4 тысячи.

Мигранты в Казахстане имеют право на разные виды медицинской помощи, зависящие от их правового статуса. Лица с видом на жительство и кандасы могут получить полный объем бесплатной медицинской помощи (ГОБМП) и при уплате взносов услуги по системе обязательного медицинского страхования (ОСМС). Иностранцы, временно пребывающие в стране, имеют право на экстренную и неотложную медицинскую помощь бесплатно.

Эмир из Таджикистана сам по образованию врач. В Казахстане изначально оказался в связи с тем, что хотел через местную компанию получить визу в Европу на сезонные полевые работы, чтобы заработать денег. Но компания обманула его и так Эмир решил, что оно и к лучшему, и в Казахстане можно официально поработать по специальности. Эмир получил разрешение на работу, он старается следить за своим здоровьем и по возможности проходить обследования.

Эмиру повезло: он живет и работает в Казахстане легально, поэтому может себе позволить пользоваться всеми преимуществами, которые доступны иностранцам с РВП (разрешение на временное пребывание) или ВНЖ (вид на жительство). А что делать тем, кто является в Казахстане мигрантом, но вне правового поля?

Анна Козлова является консультантом по вопросам миграции в неправительственной организации Сommunity friends. Основное направление ее деятельности — помощь тем иностранцам, кто оказался в положении нелегала осознанно или по стечению обстоятельств.

— Из опыта нашей работы могу сказать, что в Казахстане законодательство довольно лояльно к мигрантам, особенно по сравнению с другими странами постсоветского пространства, у нас есть доступ к медицине, лечат заболевания. Это привлекает в страну большое количество мигрантов. Но проблема в том, что не все из них в итоге работают официально. А ведь только легально находящиеся в стране мигранты пользуются как раз всеми благами. Пребывающие нелегально люди ни на что не могут рассчитывать, разве что на то, что казахстанцы по доброте будут помогать, — сказала Анна Козлова.

Встречаются на практике случаи, когда человек оказывается заложником бюрократии. Анна рассказала о ситуации женщины из Кыргызстана, которая 10 лет назад пересекала границу Казахстана с сумкой героина.

Ее задержали на территории Казахстана, осудили на 10 лет, спустя семь лет ее освободили по УДО. Условно досрочное освобождение предусматривает, что человек должен не просто твердо встать на путь исправления, но и иметь жилье, куда человек может приехать, прописаться, где его могут контролировать правоохранительные органы, и должна быть возможность трудоустроиться, потому что есть иски, ну и вообще так положено для ресоциализации.

В данном случае гражданка другой страны освобождается по УДО, но у нее нет никаких возможностей оформить себе РВП как мигранту, чтобы легально здесь находиться, отбывать остаток срока, трудоустроиться и жить, потому что она семь лет отбывала наказание.

— Но казус в том, что ей суд назначает еще пять лет надзора, то есть, после окончания срока, она еще пять лет должна находиться в Казахстане под надзором правоохранительных органов. А тут еще она беременеет. Она ко мне обратилась на седьмом месяце беременности. Когда случились роды, мы подумали, что раз она срок отбыла, мы ее сможем отправить на родину с ребенком. Но в миграционке и прокуратуре заявили, что не имеют права игнорировать решение суда о надзоре на пять лет. Хотя ей ни на работу ни устроиться, ни пособия, ни бесплатную медицину ни для себя, ни для ребенка не получить, ни прививки. Мне сказали обращаться в суд через посольство Кыргызстана, чтобы отменили решение по надзору, и только тогда мы ее сможем отправить на родину. Пока она в Доме мамы находится и ее статус в подвешенном состоянии: она и нелегал, так как не может получить РВП, но и легал, потому что находится под надзором, — рассказала Анна Козлова.

Как лечат заболевания у мигрантов в Казахстане

Проходить чек-апы (проверки) на те или иные заболевания — очень важная вещь. Другое дело, что не каждый мигрант готов или имеет возможность делать это на регулярной основе, особенно, если это касается проверки на ВИЧ.

В рамках специальной программы «Здоровье мигрантов», реализуемой частными общественными фондами, была поставлена цель: расширить модель профилактики ВИЧ-инфекции среди мигрантов.

В рамках проекта были охвачены почти две тысячи мигрантов, из них выявлено 85 случаев ВИЧ. Иными словами, 90% охваченных лиц имели ВИЧ-отрицательный статус, в то время как 10% были ВИЧ-положительными. Большинство мигрантов были из Таджикистана (25%), Узбекистана (22%) и Кыргызстана (17%), а также релоканты составили 30% от общего числа.

Ключевые группы составили 82% от общего числа охваченных, а не ключевые группы — 18%. Отмечено, что проект не проверял, были ли эти люди ранее на учете по ВИЧ у себя на родине, или они ранее не знали о своем статусе, либо получили его, находясь в Казахстане.

Как бы там ни было, результаты показали, что для сохранения здоровья мигрантов необходимо не только перекладывать ответственность на них самих, но и предпринимать меры с другой стороны.

Что доступно мигрантам с ВИЧ в Казахстане

Иностранцам с ВИЧ в Казахстане бесплатно АРВ-терапия по закону не положена, если они находятся в стране временно, так как она входит в гарантированный объем бесплатной медпомощи для граждан и кандасов. Однако, благодаря поддержке Глобального фонда и НПО, таким людям предоставляются препараты и консультации через специальные программы, как, например, ДКП (доконтактная профилактика), чтобы они могли получить лечение и продолжить терапию, иногда с помощью правовой поддержки.

27-летний мигрант из Таджикистана Самир узнал о своем ВИЧ-статусе, обратившись в проект «Здоровье мигрантов 2» в Казахстане. Он думал, что диагноз означает конец нормальной жизни, но консультанты-равные (люди, которые сами пережили заболевание) помогли ему понять, что ВИЧ лечится и что Н=Н: при терапии вирус не передается.

Из-за того, что иностранцы в Казахстане не могут получать АРВ-терапию, команда проекта поставила Самира на дистанционный учет в СПИД-центр Таджикистана: анализы он сдал в Казахстане, консультации получил онлайн, а лекарства приехали туда, где он работал.

Когда выяснилось, что дома у него беременная жена, проект помог провести тестирование, сохранив конфиденциальность, тест оказался отрицательным.

Через три месяца лечения вирусная нагрузка Самира стала неопределяемой. Он сохранил здоровье и защитил свою семью.

— Почему лечение ВИЧ важно для всех? Во-первых, контроль заболевания. ВИЧ сегодня хорошо контролируется: человек, который получает лечение, живет обычной жизнью. Во-вторых, необходимо добиться нулевой передачи. Современная терапия снижает количество вируса крови до нуля. Это значит: здоровье человека ВИЧ не ухудшается, человек не передает ВИЧ другим. Также важна остановка эпидемии. Когда все люди, живущие с ВИЧ — и местные жители, и мигранты, и релоканты, получают лечение, эпидемия замедляется и останавливается. Обеспечение лечения мигрантов — это не только вопрос гуманности, но и эффективная мера общественного здоровья, — рассказала специалист по адвокации в Казахстанском союзе людей, живущих с ВИЧ Оксана Ибрагимова.

Она убеждена, что лечение ВИЧ, как и других заболеваний у мигрантов, защищает общество, так как мигранты — часть общества, они работают, учатся, создают семьи. Их здоровье напрямую влияет на здоровье местных сообществ.

А вот ограничения и депортация ВИЧ-положительных мигрантов, по ее словам, не останавливают эпидемию: люди продолжают перемещаться, а отсутствие лечения — главный фактор распространения ВИЧ.

Кроме того, запретительные меры создают страх и приводят к тому, что люди избегают тестирования и помощи, что увеличивает число невыявленных случаев. Наиболее эффективный подход — обеспечить доступ к лечению: человек на терапии не передает вирус, а значит, это самый действенный способ защитить общественное здоровье.

Благодаря условиям, которые создает государства, и деятельности общественников мигранты с ВИЧ-положительным статусом в Казахстане могут не просто пройти консультацию о доступе к лечению в Казахстане, но и направление для обследований в СПИД Центр за счет общественных фондов, а также помощь в получении терапии (с родины, за счет квоты ГФСТМ, выдачи из аптечки взаимопомощи), поддержку в формате «равный-равному» для начала лечения и поддержания приверженности

Что еще могут вылечить мигранты в Казахстане

Если мигрант находится в Казахстане легально, то есть, имея РВП или ВНЖ, он имеет право на медпомощь в рамках медицинского страхования при наличии отчислений.

Если же иностранец находится легально, но не работает, то в случае заболевания ему предложат два вариант: уехать долечиваться домой или лечиться в Казахстане платно.

— У меня был случай с девушкой из Афганистана, она здесь с мужем проживала легально — он работал, а у нее было РВП как воссоединение с семьей, но не было отчислений, так как она здесь не работала. Однажды у нее нашли туберкулез, положили в больницу. Открытую форму по ГОБМП купировали и потом должны либо на родину отправить долечиваться, либо платно здесь. И ее хотели отправить в Афганистан, но с нашей помощью нам удалось добиться разрешения остаться, муж ей оплачивал лечение, — пояснила Козлова.

Здоровье детей мигрантов в Казахстане

Дети мигрантов также как и взрослые сталкиваются с определенными ограничениями.

Например, если ребенку мигранта нужно получить прививку, приходится обращаться в частные медцентры в случае нелегального или полулегального пребывания его родителей в Казахстане. Такая же проблема и с получением ими образования.

— Где-то врачи идут на уступки, смотрят этих деток. Педагоги идут на уступки в школах, потому что понятно, что дети болтаются, и берут их на обучение, там придумывают как-то. Но если мигранты находятся нелегально, то по закону их дети тоже ни на что не могут рассчитывать, — заключила Анна Козлова.

Как мы видим, если иностранец приезжает в Казахстан, живет и работает здесь легально, то перед ним открываются хорошие возможности по социальному обеспечению, включая контроль за здоровьем.

А вот в случае с нелегальным статусом ситуация осложняется, и только при поддержке грамотных консультантов и в тесном контакте с уполномоченными государственными органами возможно решить проблемы индивидуально.

Сохранение здоровья всех, кто находится в Казахстане — не просто имиджевая задача, но и прямой вклад в эпидемическое благополучие и защиту здоровья общества, считают эксперты.

Напомним, новые Правила регистрации иммигрантов в Казахстане вводятся с 1 июля 2026 года.