South Africa (SA), like the rest of the Southern African Develop ment Community, has a high prevalence of communicable dis eases, an increasing non-communicable disease burden, and diverse internal and cross-border population movements. Healthy migration is good for development, but current prevention, testing and treatment responses within public health systems – particularly for chronic conditions – fail to engage with migration. Understanding of migration is poor within sectors responsible for developing appropriate responses; negative, unsupported assumptions relating to the prevalence of cross-border migration, the spread of disease, and the burden on receiving health systems prevail. In SA, public health responses fail to address internal and cross-border mobilities, and non-nationals face challenges in accessing healthcare. Of particular concern is the lack of nationally and regionally co-ordinated strategies to ensure treatment continuity for chronic conditions. Co-ordinated, evidence-informed responses to migration, mobility and health are urgently needed. These will have developmental and public health benefits for all. © 2014, South African Medical Association. All rights reserved.

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HIV Infections health care planning Human immunodeficiency virus infection Population Dynamics health insurance human health service Regional Health Planning chronic disease procedures Social Conditions Health Services Needs and Demand South Africa social status Humans prevalence Article organization and management communicable disease Biodiversity migration Emigration and Immigration Health Services Accessibility public health health care delivery