Migrants and refugees face challenges accessing both healthcare and good social determinants of health in Malaysia. Participants at the “Migrant and Refugee Health in Malaysia workshop, Kuala Lumpur, 9-10 November 2017” scoped these challenges within the regional ASEAN context, identifying gaps in knowledge and practical steps forward to improve the evidence base in the Malaysia.

The right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health – or simply “the right to health” – is explicitly formulated in an array of international law instruments, of which most Central Asian states are part. These instruments define states’ obligation to provide healthcare services for all, without discrimination based on health status, ethnicity, age, sex, disability, language, religion, national origin, income, social status or any other characteristic.

This paper examines the relationship between migration and health from a human-rights and social equity based perspective. It discussed how migrationcan itself be seen as a determinant of migrants' health. Migrants are affected by social inequalities and are likely to go through several experiences during the migration process which puts their physical, mental and social well-being at risk. Migrants often face poverty and social exclusion, which has negative influences on health, especially in countries of transit and destination.

Work is a principal driver of current international migration, a primary social determinant of health, and a fundamental point of articulation between migrants and their host society. Efforts by international organizations to promote migrant health have traditionally focused on infectious diseases and access to healthcare, while international labor organizations have largely focused on issues of occupational health.

In September 2015, the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda was adopted, and for the first time, migration was included in mainstream global development policy. With the objective of communicating how IOM identifies migration in the 2030 Agenda to stakeholders and the wider public, and to shed light on the complex challenges and opportunities that accompany the migration-related targets, this IOM publication aims to showcase how different areas of migration are addressed in the Sustainable Development Goals.

Content:

A concept model presented in this paper introduces the concept of health care provision for undocumented migrants as a management strategy. Study cases from Australia and Italy are used to illustrate the concept. 

This report illustrates IOM’s health activities in 2015 and presents key achievements in the three main migration health programme areas: (a) migration health assessments and travel health assistance; (b) health promotion and assistance for migrants; and (c) migration health assistance for crisis-affected populations. The report also highlights emerging themes in migration and health – work on advancing the unfinished agenda of migrant health for the benefit of all; and advancing the global health security agenda.