Mobile Populations: Stop TB Key Populations Brief

Despite numerous international treaties and commitments to protect the health rights of migrants, this population still faces significant barriers in their access to TB care. Migration, which is driven by a number of complex economic, social, political and environmental factors, is a determinant of ill health, and the health outcomes of migrants are impacted by the various dimensions of the migration process. Migrants often arrive at their destination with low socioeconomic status, which makes them especially vulnerable to diseases such as TB. When accessing health care, migrants must contend with discriminatory policies and practices, poor availability of services, negative attitudes from health care workers, language barriers and stigma. TB does not stop at national borders, so policies to address TB in this population should not be constrained by local political concerns. There needs to be greater cooperation at the international level to improve TB surveillance, referrals and treatment across national health systems.