The document summarizes the Public Health Aspects of Migration in Europe (PHAME) project, a joint initiative between the WHO Regional Office for Europe and the Italian Ministry of Health. PHAME was established in 2011 following a meeting on increasing displaced populations in the Mediterranean. The project aims to strengthen health systems' capacity to address refugee and migrant health needs. PHAME has produced health assessments, updates, newsletters, and guidelines. Given its success, PHAME has been extended through 2015 with PHAME 2 to further collaborate on migration and health across Europe.

1. Ministry of Health – Italy
Directorate-General of Communication and European and International Relations
High Level Meeting on Refugee and Migrant Health
Rome, 23-24 November 2015
Public Health Aspects of Migration in the WHO
European Region
Keynote Speech
Dr. Daniela Rodorigo
Director General of Communication and European and
International Relations
Ministry of Health of Italy

2. Ministry of Health – Italy
Directorate-General of Communication and European and International Relations
High Level Meeting on Refugee and Migrant Health
Rome, 23-24 November 2015
PROJECT ‘PHAME’
Public Health Aspects of Migration in Europe
A joint initiative between the WHO Regional Office
for Europe and the Italian Ministry of Health

3. Ministry of Health – Italy
Directorate-General of Communication and European and International Relations
High Level Meeting on Refugee and Migrant Health
Rome, 23-24 November 2015
• April 2011 - High level Meeting “Increasing movement of
displaced populations in the Mediterranean Countries of
the EU: future challenges for the Health Systems”
• Organized by the Italian MoH in collaboration with the
European Commission and the WHO Regional Office for
Europe.

4. Ministry of Health – Italy
Directorate-General of Communication and European and International Relations
High Level Meeting on Refugee and Migrant Health
Rome, 23-24 November 2015
MEETING OUTCOMES
•the Agreement among participants to coordinate and
strengthen the health sector capacity of European Countries
to responde to an increase inflow of migrant population.
•The WHO Regional Office for Europe and the Italian Ministry
of Health established the Public Health Aspects of Migration
in Europe (PHAME) project

5. Ministry of Health – Italy
Directorate-General of Communication and European and International Relations
High Level Meeting on Refugee and Migrant Health
Rome, 23-24 November 2015
OBJECTIVES
The project focuses on strengthening health systems’
capacity in relation to the health needs of refugees and
migrants as well as of the host population; promoting
immediate and necessary health intervention, migrant-
sensitive health policies and improvement in the quality of
health services delivered; and optimizing utilization of
health structures and resources in Countries that receive
refugee and migrant population.

6. Ministry of Health – Italy
Directorate-General of Communication and European and International Relations
High Level Meeting on Refugee and Migrant Health
Rome, 23-24 November 2015
MAIN ACTIVITIES
• Assessing health systems’ capacity in dealing with
migrants health
• Establishment of a data-base on public health aspects of
migration
• Development of guidelines on strengthening health
systems’ capacity in relation to the health needs of
migrants and of host population
• Dissemination of knowledge and best practices
• Ensuring migrant-sensitive health policies

7. Ministry of Health – Italy
Directorate-General of Communication and European and International Relations
High Level Meeting on Refugee and Migrant Health
Rome, 23-24 November 2015
FOR THE FIRST TIME
Concerning the issue “Migration and health” the PHAME
Project produced:
•Health needs assessment in Countries
•Situation update
•WHO EURO Newsletter
•Toolkit for capacity assessment for Health Systems

8. Ministry of Health – Italy
Directorate-General of Communication and European and International Relations
High Level Meeting on Refugee and Migrant Health
Rome, 23-24 November 2015
THE WAY FORWARD: PHAME 2 PROJECT
Considering that the scope of the Project expanded
considerably throughout the WHO European Region in order
to strengthen helth systems’ capacity to responde to public
health implication of migrant influxes, the Ministry of Health
of Italy and the WHO Regional Office for Europe decided to
continue the activities of the PHAME 1 Project for a further
period of 3 years and signed on 14 September 2015 a new
agreement: PHAME 2 Project

9. Ministry of Health – Italy
Directorate-General of Communication and European and International Relations
High Level Meeting on Refugee and Migrant Health
Rome, 23-24 November 2015
PHAME 2 MAIN ACTIVITIES/1
• Continue the implementation of activities of PHAME 1 in
line with the 2020 health policy framework of WHO/EURO
• Continue to provide assistance on migration and health to
European Mediterranean Countries and expand assistance
to Countries of Eastern part of Europe
• Strengthen the preparedness and response capacity in the
European Region specifically in the management of
communicable diseases, non-communicable diseases and
intersectoral approach for health and migration

10. Ministry of Health – Italy
Directorate-General of Communication and European and International Relations
High Level Meeting on Refugee and Migrant Health
Rome, 23-24 November 2015
PHAME 2 MAIN ACTIVITIES/2
•Support health information systems relevant to migration and
health through data collection and analysis
•Disseminate best practices and encourage cross-country
exchange of knowledge
•Increase collaboration and partnership with the WHO Regional
Offices for Eastern Mediterranean and for Africa, IOM, UNICEF,
ECDC, UNHCR and other parteners

11. Ministry of Health – Italy
Directorate-General of Communication and European and International Relations
High Level Meeting on Refugee and Migrant Health
Rome, 23-24 November 2015
CONCLUSIONS
The readiness to prevent, diagnose, monitor, manage and
react to possible migrant’s disease and to govern their
impact on accepting communities and environment deploys
positive effects beyond medical and humanitarian aspects.
In fact, it may effectively favour a more positive approach to
reception of migrants, quiet and pacific cohabitation, and
definitely social peace and security in all Europe and at the
same time reduce the insurgence of unjustified fears and
hateful rejections.

12. Ministry of Health – Italy
Directorate-General of Communication and European and International Relations
High Level Meeting on Refugee and Migrant Health
Rome, 23-24 November 2015
Farewell, brothers, farewell, you crowds in pain,
may the sky be merciful and the sea benevolent,
may the sun make your trip gentler,
farewell, poor people,
be calm and quiet and determined.
Be kinder with your beloved,
keep your children in a warm place,
share between you clothes, money, bread
Let you challenge united and tight each other
and the raging human tragedies
(E. De Amicis, 1882)
D. RODORIGO