JOHANNESBURG, 20. december 2011 (IRIN): Mens de fleste nationer er afhængige af migrantarbejdernes færdigheder og arbejdskraft, er det dog meget få som sørger for at netop disse arbejdere har adgang til sundhedspleje.
På verdensplan er der i omegnen af 214 millioner migrantarbejdere, og konsekvenserne af en forringet og i mange tilfælde ikke-eksisterende sundhedspleje kan for dem være katastrofale, oplyser IOM (International Organization for Migration).
Describing migrants’ lack of access to health services as “one of the biggest challenges facing global health today”, IOM marked International Migrants Day on 18 December by calling for more migrant-inclusive health policies.
In many countries, health care for undocumented migrants is limited to emergency care. “Such restrictions lead to poor health outcomes for the individual and increase public health risks, particularly if it concerns infectious diseases,” noted IOM in a press statement.
Even in countries that do not bar migrants from accessing health services, barriers remain. “Migrants often don’t feel comfortable accessing health services in their new country,” said Barbara Rijks from IOM’s Migration Health Division in Geneva. Language differences, cost and administrative hurdles can also create problems, as well as negative attitudes towards migrants by healthcare workers.
