Refugees and Migrants Receive a Very Low Standard of Health Care
In addition, other problems immigrants face are language, economic and legal barriers, and unequal access to information and services, AtoZSerwisPlus.com reports.
According to the report, millions of refugees and migrants in vulnerable situations worldwide face poorer health outcomes than host populations.
“Vulnerable migrants, such as low-skilled migrant workers, receive lower quality health services, especially where living and working conditions are sub-standard,” the report reads.
In this regard, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said that today there are about one billion immigrants worldwide, about one in eight people. However, this figure includes internal migrants who moved from their homes but remained inside the country.
“The experience of migration is a key determinant of health and well-being, and refugees and migrants remain among the most vulnerable and neglected members of many societies,” he pointed out.
The WHO also stressed that migrants face more barriers when navigating the health system than natives.
According to the WHO, these obstacles include but are not limited to:
- uncertain legal status
- discrimination
- social, cultural, linguistic, administrative, and financial barriers
- ack of information about health rights
- lack of living space
- low health education
- fear of detention and deportation
In addition, WHO, through a meta-analysis of over 17 million participants from 16 countries, found that compared to non-migrant workers, migrant workers were more likely to suffer from an injury at work.
The organization added that evidence showed that many migrant workers worldwide are engaged in dirty, dangerous, and difficult jobs. Thus, they are more vulnerable to work-related accidents, injuries, and health problems than their non-immigrant counterparts.
Moreover, in the report, the WHO asked the host countries to invest more in the health sector to improve health care for migrants.
Commenting on this situation, WHO Deputy Director General Zsuzsanna Jakab said that it is necessary to support the health of refugees and immigrants, adding that urgent investments are needed to improve the quality, importance, and completeness of health data for refugees and immigrants.
Previously, the European Migration Network (EMN) published information on examining migrants’ challenges in accessing mental health services and Member States’ responses to these challenges.
According to the EMN, it would be very beneficial for all migrants at risk if immediate intervention and strong support from host countries and communities were to take measures such as facilitating affordable and non-discriminatory access to services or reducing communication barriers.