A European summit on tackling the health of growing numbers of refugees and migrants is under way in Rome.
The summit has been called by the World Health Organisation, which warns that more than 700,000 refugees and migrants have entered its European region this year.
Another two million are sheltering in Turkey, it said.
According to WHO, as many as 5% need medical assistance and they also face an increased risk of infectious diseases through poor sanitation and inadequate shelter.
WHO says that vaccination programmes are priority – and that these have been undertaken by many European countries.
A WHO spokesman said: “These groups still face many complex challenges, including limited access to health services, due to high cost, lack of information and administrative, cultural or language barriers.
“Large-scale migration places immense and often unexpected pressure on the health systems of hosting countries, testing both their capacity and their preparedness.”
WHO regional director Dr Zsuzsanna Jakab said: “Health systems in the European Region, including those of countries that receive refugees and migrants, are well equipped to diagnose and treat common infectious and non-communicable diseases.
“But we, as a region, must seek to ensure that all countries are adequately prepared and organised to withstand the added pressures of supporting a mass influx of people, while at the same time protecting the health of their resident populations.
“A good response to the challenges of people on the move requires health system preparedness and capacity, including robust epidemiological data and migration intelligence, careful planning, training and, above all, adherence to the principles of equity, solidarity and human rights.”
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