About Migration Health Assessment Centres (MHAC)

Established in 1951, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) is the leading intergovernmental organization in the field of migration and is committed to the principle that humane and orderly migration benefits migrants and society. IOM is part of the United Nations system, as a related organization. 

The IOM Migration Health Assessment Programme (HAP), as part of the Migration Health Division (MHD), provides migration health assessments and related services as one of the longest-standing activities of the Organization. Over the years, the Programme has grown in scope and magnitude. At the request of destination country governments, IOM provides an evaluation of the physical and mental health status of migrants prior to their departure for the purpose of assisting them with resettlement, international employment, obtainment of temporary or permanent visas, enrolment in specific migrant assistance programmes, such as assisted voluntary return, or during post-emergency relocation and repatriation. This serves to promote the health of migrants throughout the migration continuum, encourage positive health seeking behaviours and above all, to ensure that the migration process does not have a negative impact on the health of either the migrant or the host population.  

IOM carries out these activities through migration health assessment centres (MHACs) in 50 countries, mobile teams for processing in remote areas and with a large network of service providers and cooperating centres. Since the year 2000 alone, IOM has provided or facilitated the delivery of over seven million migration health assessments.  

Through MHACs, IOM strives to ensure the delivery of services that are: 

• Migrant-centred, taking gender, age and culturally sensitive approaches into account; 
• Beneficial, equitable and accessible; 
• Timely and efficient; 
• Technically sound; 
• In line with national and international health legislation. 

All services are delivered by qualified staff who adhere to established ethical and quality standards.