The inter-regional roundtable discussion on “Addressing Health Vulnerabilities of Migrants in Large Migration Flows”convened on 25 April 2016 in Geneva, Switzerland. In the presence of over 40 senior government representatives from Permanent Missions across Asia and Europe, the roundtable discussed best case practices to better address health needs of migrants and refugees moving along transit nations in the European migration crisis and receiving nations in the Andaman Sea area.

During the roundtable, there was consensus that stronger inter-sectorial collaboration and communication were needed to ensure quicker response as well as coordination in managing similar crises in the future. Three key aspects of current efforts were highlighted and assessed for discussion: technical expertise and resources, governments’ regulatory flexibility, and support from local institutions such as hospitals and non-governmental organisations.

Dr Yiannis BASKOZOS, General Secretary of Public Health, Greece, and Dr Susheela BALASUNDARAM, Associate Programme Officer (Health), Programme Section, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, were among the expert speakers at this event.

The roundtable discussion was co-organised by the Asia-Europe Foundation (ASEF) Public Health Network and the International Organization for Migration (IOM) Regional Office for South-Eastern Europe, Eastern Europe and Central Asia.