“Conference Series on Migrant Health in the Mekong Region”: The First Consultative Meeting on Policy, Financing and Service Delivery Issues, 23rd- 26th March 2014, Mandalay : IHPP Foundation and USAID convened the First Consultative Meeting in Mandalay,
Myanmar. Forty four participants who are delegates from Mekong Region including Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam, and other partners were actively involved in the Meeting.
H.E. Professor Pe Thet Khin, Union Minister of Health, Republic of the Union of Myanmar, delivered the welcome speech and indicated the important of migrants’ health in achieving development outcomes. He said that, “Migrant labor is one of the key drivers to economic growth in host countries so they have the right to access health services”.
Dr. Viroj Tangcharoensathien, Secretary General, IHPP Foundation andDr. Aye Aye Thwin, Director, Office of Public Health, USAID highlighted the opening remarks and the objectives of this Meeting. Subsequently, Dr. Suwit Wibulpolprasert, Vice Chair, IHPP Foundation, provided keynote address which was drawn from his real life and experiences. He emphasized health as a human right and the relevance of improving access to health services as an important part of achieving Universal Health Coverage across ASEAN countries.
In the meeting, all delegates from five countries discussed on issues of policy, financing, and service delivery on migrants’ health. The goal is to improve access to health services and financial risk protection of migrants.
There are three factors consisting of policy & legal factors; health financing factors and health delivery systems factors, which has an effect on the current situation of migrant’s health.
The highest ranking participant being Lao’s Vice Minister of Health and all delegation from five countries, including civil society partners showed their keen interests and proposed their good ideas for national actions, cross-border and inter-country collaboration.
From the three day meeting, there was a consensus on “Mandalay Statement”. This requires multi-sectoral actions by public security, immigration, health, labor, social security, civil society and private employer constituencies. Close collaboration among agencies responsible for migrants’ health in host and sending countries is essential. The upcoming ASEAN Economic Community requires closer collaboration across countries, recognizing private sector as an indispensable partner.
It was agreed at the end of the Meeting that there will be a follow up meeting in June, 2014 to develop an operational plan for specific actions at the cross-border and/or in-country locations in 3 main dimensions: policy, financing, and health service delivery. It is expected to learn and share good practices / innovations on migrant friendly health services, monitoring & evaluation and information systems among the five countries.
Overall, the Meeting went smoothly and productively and it was exceeded the expectations of the co-organizers, USAID and IHPP. Dr. Aye Aye Thwin expressed her view in an email communication that “…there was great teamwork and camaraderie between Team USAID and IHPP staff, who are all delightful folks. The arrangements and technical support was superb. We worked closely as family, mutual respect from both sides, no organizational boundaries, no competition for limelight but just a handful of the right folks with the right ideals…”