Doctors within borders: networking initiative on mobile populations in contemporary health systems

Contemporary healthcare systems assume that the people they care for belong to populations that are by and large settled. Yet, we know that people move around and migration and health is a challenging issue in contemporary society. Health systems need to find a way to deliver care to those who lack legal settled status or a permanent address. 

We will establish a research network, bringing together experts in health and migration, non-governmental organisations, the NHS and health professionals across Europe who deliver care to such groups. Members of the network will explore the often dynamic and novel ways health professionals have engaged with the mobility of their patients, frequently working outside the regular health system.

This work is particularly relevant as the issue of health inequalities experienced by migrants has been highlighted by the British Medical Association.