The health of recent migrants from resource-poor countries

The care of recent migrants from resource-poor countries requires careful consideration by healthcare providers. Innovative approaches are required to reduce the significant inequalities in health compared to the UK-born population and long term migrants. Primary care physicians are best positioned to improve early diagnosis of imported infections such as tuberculosis, HIV, malaria, hepatitis and helminth infections to avoid the high cost of emergency presentations with advanced or severe disease. Culturally sensitive approaches are required when diagnosing and treating stigmatizing diseases. The issue of providing free healthcare to undocumented migrants is a political one, but where individuals do have entitlement to care, it should be provided effectively.