From 2 to 5 September, NOVA University Lisbon hosted the 2nd World Conference on Migration and Health, which brought together international experts, academics, policymakers, and representatives of multilateral organisations in Lisbon to discuss the challenges and solutions at the intersection of health and migration.
The conference, organised by GSMERH, reinforced the need to place human rights, equity in access to healthcare, and international cooperation at the centre of public policies. Faculty and researchers from NOVA NSPH played an active role both in the organisation of the event and as speakers and moderators in several sessions.
The Director of NOVA NSPH, Sónia Dias, co-organiser of the event, highlighted that “this conference demonstrates that health cannot be thought of in isolation: it is deeply connected to the socioeconomic, cultural, and political determinants that shape the health and wellbeing of populations and equity in access to care. By integrating perspectives on migration, the importance of public policies that are sensitive to diversity and adapted to the complexity of contemporary social contexts is underlined”.
“Portugal is recognised as an example of a country with effective public policies for the integration of migrants, maximising their contributions to economic and social development. NOVA NSPH participated in several panels and debates, sharing its research and reinforcing the School’s commitment to bridging science, public policy, and human rights in the field of global health. For NOVA NSPH, involvement in this conference is also an affirmation of our mission to train professionals and produce knowledge that responds to these challenges, contributing to the strengthening and innovation of the health system”, added Sónia Dias.
One of the most powerful testimonies came from a Syrian public health PhD student at NOVA NSPH, who arrived in Portugal through a humanitarian programme. “I had to leave my country in the middle of a war, bringing only a suitcase filled with dreams and memories. Starting over was difficult. A new language, a new culture, being away from my family… But education became my anchor. Today, I transform my experience into research so that migrant health is recognised as an essential right”, she said.
The event also featured interventions from international organisations, including the World Health Organization, the International Labour Organization, and the United Nations, which highlighted Portugal’s pioneering role in driving the World Health Assembly Resolution on ethnic minorities (2008) and stressed that migrant health is a central priority for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.
GSMERH 2025 featured dozens of roundtables, panels, and workshops, covering topics such as migrant and refugee health, the social and environmental determinants of health, the integration of artificial intelligence and new technologies into healthcare delivery, and international solidarity policies in response to climate crises and armed conflicts. GSMERH 2025 concluded with a collective call for migration to be seen not only as a challenge but also as an opportunity for more inclusive, innovative, and resilient societies.
