15/04/2020 (Agence Europe) – In a joint statement, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and the Council of Europe (CoE) called on States “to benefit from the support refugee health professionals can provide to national health systems” to address “the unprecedented COVID-19 crisis”. “These practitioners are ready to step in and contribute if allowed to, under the supervision of certified health professionals”, says Filippo Grandi, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. CoE Secretary General, Marija Pejčinović Burić, recalls the importance of the 'European Qualifications Passport for Refugees' (EQPR). While it is not a substitute for the necessary professional certificates and diplomas, the EQPR “can help establish a qualified pool of pre-assessed refugee health practitioners, that will enable to determine how best to deploy refugee resources”. (VL)