26 July 2024
NTS Bulletin July 2024
Migration and Health Equity: Priority Areas for ASEAN Community 2025
By Danielle Lynn Goh
Abstract
Migration has become increasingly complex and diverse. While migration can present economic opportunities and growth, at the same time, migrants, in particular low-wage migrant workers, undocumented migrants, and refugees, often face differential access to healthcare services, are more at risk of poverty, and are more likely to live in poorer living conditions. The UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development recognises the need to incorporate migration to make better progress towards the sustainable development goals and targets. On the regional level in Southeast Asia, the health of migrants has been included in ASEAN’s post-2015 agenda. However, there are groups of migrants such as low-wage migrant workers and refugees that are not sufficiently included in national healthcare systems.
Differential Access to Healthcare
There is still a long way to go in terms of ensuring healthcare access and equity for migrant workers globally. In 2023, the World Health Organization (WHO) stated that the world is off track to make significant progress in achieving universal health coverage (UHC) by 2030. The Migrant Integration Policy Index 2020 found that legal migrants, undocumented migrants and refugees are informed about their entitlements and use of health services in only 19 out of the 56 countries measured. In Southeast Asia, low-wage migrant workers in the region are especially vulnerable to health threats. An example would be migrant domestic workers, who are often excluded from labour and social security policies of the state.
Health risks of Refugees Exacerbated by Climate Change and Conflict
Climate change and conflict are resulting in more people being forcibly displaced worldwide. According to the UN, by the end of 2023, the global refugee population increased by 7 per cent, reaching 43.4 million, driven increasingly by ongoing conflicts and violence, these include in Sudan, Myanmar and in Gaza. The health implications for both refugees and host populations include malnutrition, increased risk of vector-borne diseases and water-borne diseases, heat-related morbidity and rise of infectious diseases. The relationship between health, migration and climate change is still largely unexamined, and more research needs to be done to highlight their linkages in specific migrant communities.
Migration and Health in ASEAN Community 2025
The health of migrants has been one of the priority areas in ASEAN’s Post-2015 Health Development Agenda. Among the targets set by ASEAN in line with the sustainable development goals, includes that all ASEAN member states should work towards at least 80 per cent of documented migrants having access to healthcare in receiving countries by 2020. While there have been improvements in UHC coverage of ASEAN member states since 2000, there are still gaps that remain. For example, more data is needed on work injury compensation schemes and policies, long-term chronic diseases, gender inequalities, as well as issues faced by refugee populations.
In relation to building a more resilient ASEAN Community, the health of migrants should continue to be a priority for ASEAN, and should also address the specific challenges and gaps that more vulnerable groups such as low-wage migrants and refugees face. In Southeast Asia, most states do not have formal mechanisms for asylum seekers and refugees. National responses and policies to the movement of refugees are also often reactive. Policy makers should prioritise the linkages between migration, health and climate security, and to recognise that the welfare of migrants is integral to the security of the host country. In the context of SDGs and Universal Health Coverage targets, migration must be integrated in global health efforts. Furthermore, beyond a focus on diseases and their spread, the social determinants of care of migrants must also be considered – this includes their well-being, living environment, as well as educational and employment opportunities.
Migration and Health Equity: Priority Areas for ASEAN Community 2025
By Danielle Lynn Goh
Abstract
Migration has become increasingly complex and diverse. While migration can present economic opportunities and growth, at the same time, migrants, in particular low-wage migrant workers, undocumented migrants, and refugees, often face differential access to healthcare services, are more at risk of poverty, and are more likely to live in poorer living conditions. The UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development recognises the need to incorporate migration to make better progress towards the sustainable development goals and targets. On the regional level in Southeast Asia, the health of migrants has been included in ASEAN’s post-2015 agenda. However, there are groups of migrants such as low-wage migrant workers and refugees that are not sufficiently included in national healthcare systems.
Differential Access to Healthcare
There is still a long way to go in terms of ensuring healthcare access and equity for migrant workers globally. In 2023, the World Health Organization (WHO) stated that the world is off track to make significant progress in achieving universal health coverage (UHC) by 2030. The Migrant Integration Policy Index 2020 found that legal migrants, undocumented migrants and refugees are informed about their entitlements and use of health services in only 19 out of the 56 countries measured. In Southeast Asia, low-wage migrant workers in the region are especially vulnerable to health threats. An example would be migrant domestic workers, who are often excluded from labour and social security policies of the state.
Health risks of Refugees Exacerbated by Climate Change and Conflict
Climate change and conflict are resulting in more people being forcibly displaced worldwide. According to the UN, by the end of 2023, the global refugee population increased by 7 per cent, reaching 43.4 million, driven increasingly by ongoing conflicts and violence, these include in Sudan, Myanmar and in Gaza. The health implications for both refugees and host populations include malnutrition, increased risk of vector-borne diseases and water-borne diseases, heat-related morbidity and rise of infectious diseases. The relationship between health, migration and climate change is still largely unexamined, and more research needs to be done to highlight their linkages in specific migrant communities.
Migration and Health in ASEAN Community 2025
The health of migrants has been one of the priority areas in ASEAN’s Post-2015 Health Development Agenda. Among the targets set by ASEAN in line with the sustainable development goals, includes that all ASEAN member states should work towards at least 80 per cent of documented migrants having access to healthcare in receiving countries by 2020. While there have been improvements in UHC coverage of ASEAN member states since 2000, there are still gaps that remain. For example, more data is needed on work injury compensation schemes and policies, long-term chronic diseases, gender inequalities, as well as issues faced by refugee populations.
In relation to building a more resilient ASEAN Community, the health of migrants should continue to be a priority for ASEAN, and should also address the specific challenges and gaps that more vulnerable groups such as low-wage migrants and refugees face. In Southeast Asia, most states do not have formal mechanisms for asylum seekers and refugees. National responses and policies to the movement of refugees are also often reactive. Policy makers should prioritise the linkages between migration, health and climate security, and to recognise that the welfare of migrants is integral to the security of the host country. In the context of SDGs and Universal Health Coverage targets, migration must be integrated in global health efforts. Furthermore, beyond a focus on diseases and their spread, the social determinants of care of migrants must also be considered – this includes their well-being, living environment, as well as educational and employment opportunities.
