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| The workshop 'Migration and Migrant Health in ASEAN' was organized under the chairmanship of the Ministry of Health of Vietnam, in collaboration with ASEAN member states, IOM and WHO. (Source: IOM) |
This is a forum for delegates to discuss and enhance cooperation among ASEAN member states to improve health and promote healthy living for migrants. The workshop also called for strengthening the overall cooperation activities to improve access to health care services for migrants, especially cross-border migrants.
The workshop was organized under the chairmanship of the Vietnamese Ministry of Health, in coordination with ASEAN member countries and with the support of the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the World Health Organization (WHO).
The ASEAN region has long been a point of origin, transit or destination for migrants and their families. Migrants of Asian origin are large in number (about 106 million people), of which 60% (about 80 million) of the total international migrants reside in Asia.
Southeast Asia is home to the largest number of international migrants in Asia, after India and China. Over the past 30 years, international migration in the region has increased significantly and migrants are diverse in terms of gender, age, ability, sexual orientation and ethnicity, and migrate for a variety of reasons.
In fact, migration has created complex health security burdens for the Southeast Asian region, including risks of infectious diseases, occupational injuries and accidents, mental health, non-communicable diseases (such as cardiovascular disease and diabetes), and maternal and child health issues.
Infectious diseases such as HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria remain challenges for ASEAN member states. Several countries in the region have the highest rates of tuberculosis, HIV, and malaria. The Philippines, Myanmar, Indonesia, Thailand, and Vietnam are among the 30 countries with the highest rates of tuberculosis in the world.
Currently, ASEAN has heterogeneity in health service provision. Health care costs range from the lowest (Brunei) to the highest (Cambodia). Achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC) is a challenging goal even for citizens of member states and is even more difficult for migrants.
Recent IOM studies in the region have identified barriers that cross-border migrants face in accessing health services, including: language barriers, discrimination, financial constraints, lack of cross-border health insurance and lack of cross-border referral mechanisms when migrants need medical care. Migrants are even more vulnerable during a pandemic due to inadequate access to necessary health services and care, which has been more evident than during the recent Covid-19 pandemic.
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| The workshop attracted more than 160 leaders, experts and scholars from within and outside the health sector from ASEAN member countries. (Source: IOM) |
Speaking at the workshop, Deputy Minister of Health Nguyen Thi Lien Huong emphasized: “The International Workshop on ‘Migration and Health of ASEAN Migrants’ is a good opportunity for ASEAN member countries to identify the current situation and trends of migration in the region and the world, as well as its impact on socio-economic development. We need to share lessons learned, initiatives and policy models of the region to strengthen cooperation among ASEAN countries as well as between ASEAN and its partners to promote and improve the health of migrants”.
For her part, IOM Chief of Mission Park Mihyung welcomed the cooperation between IOM and the Ministry of Health. According to Ms. Park Mihyung, in a dynamic world with increasing human mobility, regional cooperation and partnerships are important factors to improve the health and well-being of migrants. Healthy migrants contribute to healthy communities.
“I am proud that IOM and ASEAN Member States are making positive progress in promoting migrant health action plans in line with the objectives of the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration (GCM).
“This is the first cross-cutting intergovernmental agreement on health, with several targets addressing access to health and health services. Through the implementation of the Global Compact on Migration, the Sustainable Development Goals and the World Health Assembly Resolutions, we can undertake important actions to improve the health of migrants, promote cross-sectoral partnerships and develop data-driven policies in ASEAN,” said Ms. Park Mihyung.
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| Deputy Minister of Health Nguyen Thi Lien Huong speaks at the Workshop. (Source: IOM) |
Pursuant to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, specifically in Goal 3 on ensuring healthy lives and promoting well-being at all ages, and in Resolution 70.15 on “Promoting the health of migrants and refugees” adopted by the World Health Assembly in May 2017, all Member States must ensure that migrants are included in their national health care systems, with no barriers to migrants’ access to quality health care services.
Migrant health is one of ASEAN's health priorities under the ASEAN Post-2015 Health Development Agenda, specifically under the ASEAN Health Working Group 3 (AHC3) on strengthening health systems and access to health care.
The AHC3 programme of work aims to enhance the capacity and capability of health systems to improve services for migrants, including migrant workers, especially women and children.
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| This is a forum for delegates to discuss and enhance cooperation among ASEAN member states, to improve health and promote healthy living for migrants. (Source: IOM) |
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