Regional research agenda on health, migration and displacement in the WHO Western Pacific Region, with a focus on climate change: translating research priorities into policy and practice

Overview

The Regional research agenda on health, migration and displacement in the WHO Western Pacific Region provides a framework for strengthening evidence generation and research translation to support policy and practice addressing the health needs of migrants, refugees and other displaced populations, with particular attention to climate change. Developed through a participatory process involving evidence reviews, stakeholder consultations and prioritization exercises, the agenda responds to persistent knowledge gaps that hinder equitable access to health services, emergency preparedness and progress towards universal health coverage. It aims to guide regional, national and local research efforts, strengthen research capacity, promote collaboration and support evidence-informed decision-making across the Region.

The agenda identifies research priorities for the Pacific and Asian subregions across four core themes: inclusive universal health coverage and primary health care; inclusion of migrants and displaced populations in preparedness and response to health emergencies; multisectoral approaches to addressing the determinants of health; and health, migration and displacement in the context of climate change. Cross-cutting priorities include improving evidence on underresearched populations and strengthening equitable, inclusive research partnerships and knowledge translation. The publication also presents a roadmap and action plan to support coordinated implementation, sustainable investment in research and the integration of findings into policies and programmes that promote resilient, inclusive health systems.