Ethical and legal issues related to health access for migrant populations in the Euro-Mediterranean area

Abstract

The Institut National d’Hygiène (Morocco) and the Instituto de Salud Carlos III (Spain) are involved as a consortium in a project called "Impact of migration on HIV and TB Epidemiology in the Mediterranean Area", funded by the Sixth Framework Programme for research of the European Commission. The project started in May 2007 and is intended as a specific support action to promote international research cooperation in the Euro-Mediterranean area. In particular, its objective is to improve the capacity of the countries around the Mediterranean Basin for obtaining quality epidemiological information on human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and tuberculosis (TB) among migrants, while taking into consideration ethical and legal issues related to health in migrant populations. To this end, the project proposed to hold two workshops to bring together all the relevant stakeholders: delegates of international and national non-governmental organisations (NGOs) concerned with the process, experts and health professionals, researchers, representatives of the United Nations Agencies and other decision makers.