According to a new report by the World Health Organization, about 10 million refugees and migrants worldwide are facing poor health outcomes. These individuals are most likely to be affected by factors such as living and working conditions that are not standard in their host communities. This significant issue could prevent the world from achieving its sustainable development goals.
Based on a comprehensive review of studies from around the world, the report states that although migrants and refugees are not always more healthy than their host communities, they are still more likely to experience poor health outcomes. The factors that contribute to these issues include the lack of access to education, income, housing, and various cultural and legal barriers.
The report states that migration and displacement experiences significantly impact a person’s health and well-being. For instance, a recent meta-analysis revealed that migrant workers are more likely to use health services and are more prone to experiencing occupational injuries.
It also revealed that around 169 million migrant workers worldwide are currently engaged in dangerous and demanding jobs. They are more likely to suffer from work-related injuries and are additionally more prone to experiencing poor health conditions. These individuals are more likely to be affected by the lack of access to health services.
Despite the lack of comprehensive data on the health conditions of refugees and migrants, policies and frameworks are still being developed to address these issues. However, the report shows that implementing these policies is still ineffective. As a result, the disparities in health outcomes continue to remain.
The report highlights the significant contributions of migrants and refugees to developing the COVID-19 frontline response. They can introduce innovative ideas that can help drive social and economic transformation. One of the most notable examples was the presence of migrants in several OECD countries, where as many as half of the nurses and doctors are foreign-born.
Providing adequate and comprehensive health care services to all individuals is crucial to achieving the right to health for all. This can be done by implementing policies and programs geared toward improving the quality of life for migrants and refugees. Including these individuals in the health system is also a valuable investment for developing societies.