On October 26, 2020, the Regional Expert Group (REG) on Migration and Health in Eastern Europe and Central Asia hosted an Analytical meeting for experts, practicians and researchers in the area of migration and health. The aim of the meeting was to collect ideas and recommendations that will form the scope of two operational research that will be conducted by REG in 2020-2021.
The event gathered 25 participants – representatives of the following state and public organizations: Research Centre of the Russian Federal Service for Surveillance of Consumer Rights Protection and Human Wellbeing, WHO, UNAIDS, International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, International Labor Organization. International Organization for Migration, Higher School of Economics, East Europe and Central Asia Union of People Living with HIV (ECUO), Alliance for Public Health, EVA Association, Shagi Fund, TNW Plus – Tajikistan Network of Women Living with HIV, AIDS Center of the city of Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, Oxfam in the Russian Federation, Publishing House Ferghana.
As a result of the meeting, the term of reference for two operational research projects will be developed and announced, based on the collected inputs from key experts in the area of migration and health. The first study will include policy analysis with the aim to understand barriers and potential for policy improvement for HIV positive migrants in Russia. The second study will aim to model a comparison: potential costs of HIV services for international migrants in Russia vs existing state expenditures on emergency care to HIV-positive migrants.