Abstract
Background
While meeting the health needs of refugees is defensible as a human right, asserting this right is insufficient to ensure that health care needs of refugees are actually met. In addition to political will and social commitment, a well-trained workforce is needed. Problems faced by refugees mean taking a range of public health and other measures, requiring a mix of skills to help health care professionals [HCPs] meet the needs of this vulnerable population.
Objectives
In taking an overview of global health problems associated with the health care needs of refugees, ethics and human rights are assessed to see what practical steps can be taken by public health leaders to better enable HPCs address unmet needs.
Results
Given the scale of the problem and the moral implications, there is a case for making refugee health a core topic in global health education. Ethical analysis is used to devise learning outcomes that could be included in programmes for continuing education and professional development. Twelve indicative learning objectives are offered, including to ‘demonstrate leadership when trying to affect change and address health problems faced by refugees' and to ‘demonstrate sensitivity to social customs without necessarily acceding to unlawful or unethical practices'.
Conclusions
When focusing on the health needs of refugees, practical and ethical considerations should be taken into account in support of efforts at finding educational solutions. Making refugee health a core topic in postgraduate global health education could help HCPs acquire new skills.
Key messages
The right to health is insufficient to ensure that refugees receive the care they need. There is an ethical case for building refugee health into education programmes for global (public) health.
Health education : guidelines / Afghan Refugee Health Programme, Pakistan