Migration and health

Migration and health is the second instalment of the wider Global Health Challenges and Governance specialisation from Imperial College London’s Global Master of Public Health (GMPH). The scope and content of this course has been developed from the ground up by a combined team of academics and practitioners drawing on a wealth of real-world public health experience as well as deep academic knowledge. Through short video lectures, readings and a wide range of interactive activities, learners will be immersed in the intersection of migration and health.

Designed for those new to the discipline, over four modules (intended for one week of learning each), learners will become familiar with the relationship between migration and health. Learners will be introduced to key terms and global trends in migrations, the profound impact of crises in non-health sectors on health, and policy instruments addressing migration. By the end of this course, learners will be able to describe international treaties protecting migrants’ right to health and migrant sensitive health systems. Learners will also be able to critically evaluate whether and how their national health system is providing universal health coverage to migrants.
The subsequent course in this specialisation requires the knowledge from this course, as learners will take a deep dive into climate change by applying their global health analytical skills and knowledge of multilateral policy instruments to this important global health challenge.

What you will learn

Welcome to Migration and Health
An Introduction to Migration

This module begins by exploring how policies, and global trends and crises in non-health sectors can have a profound impact on health. More and more, health is the unwitting victim of global trends and crises, beyond our direct control, and policies made in the international systems that tie countries, economies, commerce, and trade together. We introduce learners to key terms and global trends in migration, and examine global governance structures and key policy instruments addressing migration.

The Health Impacts of Migration

This module introduces learners to the different stages of migration, and health-related risks and opportunities at each stage. We then explore health risks and opportunities at each stage of migration in different settings, and for a specific vulnerable group of migrants, those people who are trafficked.

Migration and Health, Global Governance, and Policy Making

This module introduces learners to migrant health global governance structures. Having previously considered the different stages of migration, we now look at the health-related policy processes and perspectives in relation to migrants. Historically, measures around migrant health operated primarily to protect the public health of the native population from the ‘threat’ posed by immigrants and travelers. We examine how, over time, there has been growing recognition that international policy-level attention to the health and human rights of migrants is required, with several international treaties now including provisions to protect migrants’ rights to health.