Update on Government Policy Regarding Migrant Health for Border Health by Dr. Amnuay Gajeena

1. Update on Government Policy Regarding Migrant Health for Border Health by Dr. Amnuay Gajeena Director, Bureau of Policy and Strategy Ministry of Public Health

2. The border of Thailand is about 5,820 kilometers: inland border 3,205 km and sea border 2,165 km. • North - Myanmar and Lao PDR • South - Malaysia • East - Lao PDR and Cambodia • West - Myanmar

3. Situation and Public Health Problems along Thai Border 1. Communicable disease problems ; Malaria, Diarrhea, Tuberculosis, AIDS and STDs 2. Referral system 3. The standard of control and prevention of communicable diseases 4. Curative treatment 5. Health promotion 6. Health information system 7. Resources ; human resources, budget, medical equipment and drugs 8. Communication problem, language 9. Human right 10. Security problem

4. Framework for Thailand and its Neighbors in Public Health Collaboration : Healthy border population

5. Framework for Health Policy between Thailand and its neighbors 1. To strengthen bilateral relationship 2. To set up standard in medical and health 3. To support border health personnel

6. Strategies for health collaboration development between Thailand and Neighboring Countries 1. To support and develop public health service system 1.1 set up the standard for health service 1.2 supporting medical supplies, equipment and drugs 1.3 To develop referral system across border 2. To develop public health personnel 2.1 providing technical support for health personnel 2.2 promoting technology and body of knowledge 3. To develop health information system 3.1 Health information connection 3.2 Exchange health information 3.3 Health information development

7. 4. To establish core group of health personnel between Thailand and neighboring countries 4.1 Healthy Neighboring Country 4.2 Training of Migrant health volunteers 4.3 Set up network for core group 5. Health Insurance for migrant workers 5.1 Planning health insurance for migrant health workers 5.2 Set up health insurance for migrant workers and family

8. Situation of migrant workers Table 1 The registered migrant workers by agreement of Cabinet in 2001 Regions Nationality Myanmar Laos Cambodia total North 100,530* 1,338 171 102,039 Center 104,979 11,339 8,348 124,666* Northeast 2,018 9,334 780 12,132 East 24,040 7,361 31,147 62,548 West 35,261 1,485 799 37,545 Total 451,335* 59,358 57,050* 508,249 Source : Office of Foreign Labor Migrant Commission

9. Table 2 The registered migrant workers by agreement of Cabinet in 2002 Regions Nationality Myanmar Laos Cambodia total North 78,670 711 100 79,481 Center 73,669 6,192 5,273 85,164* Northeast 1,413 4,722 403 6,588 East 11,692 3,749 20,071 40,232 West 24,600 865 780 26,245 Total 340,029* 32,492 36,818 409,339 Source : Office of Foreign Labor Migrant Commission

10. Table 3 The registered migrant workers by agreement of Cabinet in 2003 Regions Nationality Myanmar Laos Cambodia total North 59,779 467 73 60,319 Center 55,085 4,109 2,873 62,072* Northeast 1,019 3,245 246 4,510 East 11,179 2,323 11,403 24,905 West 18,038 520 286 18,844 Total 247,791* 21,314 19,675 288,780 Source : Office of Foreign Labor Migrant Commission

11. Table 4 The registered migrant workers Regions Nationality Myanmar Laos Cambodia total 2001 451,335 59,358 57,050 508,249 2002 340,029 32,492 36,818 409,339 2003 247,791 21,314 19,675 288,780 Source : Office of Foreign Labor Migrant Commission

12. Health operation for migrant workers 1. Health service 2. Physical examination 3. Communicable diseases control 4. Maternal child health care and Family Planning 5. Environmental Health

13. Important issues in solving foreign migrant workers’ problems 1. To clarify the government policy 2. To set up the areas for migrant workers 3. To extend family planning program in migrant workers 4. To provide health insurance for migrant workers’ family 5. To cooperate with Ministry of Labor 6. To survey the migrant population