Evaluation of UNHCR Medical Service

The evaluation has produced four key conclusions, which are substantiated in the
body of this report:
• UNHCR has de facto established its own Medical Service since the mid-1990s and
should now draw the administrative conclusions therefrom, fully incorporating
the UNHCR Medical Service;
• As the vast majority of UNHCR staff serve in C, D, E, U and M duty stations, that
is where the major focus of the UNHCR Medical Service should be, more than it
has been until now;
• The preceding paragraph is not so much a criticism of the UNHCR Medical
Service, as it is a call for some extra personnel (one medical doctor, one nurse,
one medical secretary) who can be dedicated to prevention and health training in
the field; this is cost effective, as failing to care for staff in the remotest duty
stations is costly;
• Staff at HQs is disproportionately more on sick leave and the underlying reasons
thereof need to be addressed.