Two WHO collaborating centres based in Ireland and Sweden are working together to support the integration of refugee and migrant health data into national health information systems. Health information systems collect, analyse, and disseminate health data and are crucial in helping inform decision-making and enabling targeted interventions to ensure no one is left behind in health policy and planning.
This collaboration connects the WHO Collaborating Centre for Participatory Health Research with Refugees and Migrants at the University of Limerick in Ireland with the WHO Collaborating Centre on Migration and Health Data and Evidence at Uppsala University in Sweden.
Robust and inclusive data
Addressing disparities and promoting health for refugees, migrants and host populations requires policies and practices that are grounded in comprehensive and accurate health data. However, Associate Professor Soorej Jose Puthoopparambil, who leads the Uppsala-based centre, says migration-related variables are often missing from routine data collection, resulting in fragmented or incomplete information.
To address this, WHO/Europe developed technical guidance on integrating refugee and migrant health data into national health information systems. Now, through the MiHealth project funded by Ireland’s Health Research Board, that guidance is being adapted for country-level implementation.
Professor Ailish Hannigan is leading the project from the University of Limerick, where the national health information system’s capacity to support refugee and migrant health is being assessed.
“Despite the growing diversity of its population, Ireland lacks comprehensive studies on the capacity of its health information system to support refugee and migrant health,” she noted.
“MiHealth aims to address this gap with the objective of strengthening the national health information system for refugee and migrant health policy and practice in Ireland.”
Direct engagement
The MiHealth project is being carried out in close collaboration with community partners, the Department of Health and the Health Service Executive National Social Inclusion Office in Ireland, along with the WHO Collaborating Centre on Migration and Health Data and Evidence in Sweden.
This partnership provides a real-world example of how WHO technical guidance developed at regional level can be translated into concrete action at national level through collaboration. It also highlights the value of grounding policy change in evidence, data and direct engagement with affected communities.
