Asian governments press for improved migrant health care

Health, labour and foreign ministry officials from 13 countries in Asia held their first ever meeting to address better access to health care for millions of migrant workers in the region.

During the two-day meeting in Bangkok, officials issued joint recommendations encouraging migrant-inclusive policies and multi-country partnerships to facilitate uninterrupted treatment for diseases like HIV and tuberculosis.

“In terms of public health, if we don’t have some intervention, then we’ll have a problem - especially with communicable diseases,” Chanvit Tharathep, director of Thailand’s Bureau of Health Administration, told IRIN on 14 July at the conclusion of the meeting.

Fifty-five million Asian migrants are scattered throughout the world, according to UN Development Programme. Hundreds of thousands do not have access to health services. The meeting precedes a ministerial conference to address migrant health issues on 20-21 October, in Dhaka.

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