IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/plo/pone00/0218669.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Breaking down the barriers: Understanding migrant workers’ access to healthcare in Malaysia

Author

Listed:
  • Tharani Loganathan
  • Deng Rui
  • Chiu-Wan Ng
  • Nicola Suyin Pocock

Abstract

Background: Malaysia is widely credited to have achieved universal health coverage for citizens. However, the accessibility of healthcare services to migrant workers is questionable. Recently, medical fees for foreigners at public facilities were substantially increased. Mandatory health insurance only covers public hospital admissions and excludes undocumented migrants. This study explores barriers to healthcare access faced by documented and undocumented migrant workers in Malaysia. Methods: We use qualitative data from 17 in-depth interviews conducted with key informants from civil society organisations, trade unions, academia, medical professionals, as well as migrant workers and their representatives. We interviewed doctors working in public hospitals and private clinics frequented by migrants. Data were analysed using thematic analysis. Results: We found that healthcare services in Malaysia are often inaccessible to migrant workers. Complex access barriers were identified, many beyond the control of the health sector. Major themes include affordability and financial constraints, the need for legal documents like valid passports and work permits, language barriers, discrimination and xenophobia, physical inaccessibility and employer-related barriers. Our study suggests that government mandated insurance for migrant workers is insufficient in view of the recent increase in medical fees. The perceived close working relationship between the ministries of health and immigration effectively excludes undocumented migrants from access to public healthcare facilities. Language barriers may affect the quality of care received by migrant workers, by inadvertently resulting in medical errors, while preventing them from giving truly informed consent. Conclusions: We propose instituting migrant-friendly health services at public facilities. We also suggest implementing a comprehensive health insurance to enable healthcare access and financial risk protection for all migrant workers. Non-health sector solutions include the formation of a multi-stakeholder migration management body towards a comprehensive national policy on labour migration which includes health.

Suggested Citation

  • Tharani Loganathan & Deng Rui & Chiu-Wan Ng & Nicola Suyin Pocock, 2019. "Breaking down the barriers: Understanding migrant workers’ access to healthcare in Malaysia," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 14(7), pages 1-24, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:plo:pone00:0218669
    DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0218669
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0218669
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article/file?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0218669&type=printable
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1371/journal.pone.0218669?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Kassim, Azizah & Zin, Ragayah Haji Mat, 2011. "Policy on Irregular Migrants in Malaysia: An Analysis of its Implementation and Effectiveness," Discussion Papers DP 2011-34, Philippine Institute for Development Studies.
    2. Cathy Zimmerman & Ligia Kiss & Mazeda Hossain, 2011. "Migration and Health: A Framework for 21st Century Policy-Making," Working Papers id:4174, eSocialSciences.
    3. Cathy Zimmerman & Ligia Kiss & Mazeda Hossain, 2011. "Migration and Health: A Framework for 21st Century Policy-Making," PLOS Medicine, Public Library of Science, vol. 8(5), pages 1-7, May.
    4. United Nations UN, 2015. "Transforming our World: the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development," Working Papers id:7559, eSocialSciences.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Md.Sayed Uddin & Adam Andani Mohammed, 2021. "Adjustment Factors on the Work Performance of Bangladeshi Temporary Contract Workers in Malaysia," The Indian Journal of Labour Economics, Springer;The Indian Society of Labour Economics (ISLE), vol. 64(2), pages 333-349, June.
    2. Sunghye Cho & Hyeonkyeong Lee & Eui Geum Oh & Gwang Suk Kim & Yong‐Chan Kim & Chang‐gi Park, 2020. "Health‐related quality of life among migrant workers: The impact of health‐promoting behaviors," Nursing & Health Sciences, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 22(2), pages 318-327, June.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Xiang Kang & Mingxi Du & Siqin Wang & Haifeng Du, 2022. "Exploring the Effect of Health on Migrants’ Social Integration in China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(8), pages 1-20, April.
    2. Woranan Witthayapipopsakul & Hathairat Kosiyaporn & Sonvanee Uansri & Rapeepong Suphanchaimat, 2022. "Effect of the Promulgation of the New Migrant’s Employment Law on Migrant Insurance Coverage in Thailand: An Interrupted Time Series Analysis, 2016–2018," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(7), pages 1-12, April.
    3. Silvia Loi & Daniela Vono de Vilhena, 2020. "Exclusion through statistical invisibility. An exploration on what can be known through publicly available datasets on irregular migration and the health status of this population in Germany," MPIDR Working Papers WP-2020-009, Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research, Rostock, Germany.
    4. Gracia Fellmeth & Emma Plugge & Mina Fazel & Prakaykaew Charunwattana & François Nosten & Raymond Fitzpatrick & Julie A Simpson & Rose McGready, 2018. "Validation of the Refugee Health Screener-15 for the assessment of perinatal depression among Karen and Burmese women on the Thai-Myanmar border," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 13(5), pages 1-17, May.
    5. Corie Gray & Gemma Crawford & Bruce Maycock & Roanna Lobo, 2022. "Exploring the Intersections of Migration, Gender, and Sexual Health with Indonesian Women in Perth, Western Australia," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(20), pages 1-16, October.
    6. Xiaoguang Fan & Fei Yan & Wei Yan, 2020. "Better Choice, Better Health? Social Integration and Health Inequality among International Migrants in Hangzhou, China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(13), pages 1-13, July.
    7. PLoS Medicine Editors, 2011. "Human Trafficking: The Shameful Face of Migration," Working Papers id:4286, eSocialSciences.
    8. Patrick Cloos & Elhadji Malick Ndao & Josephine Aho & Magalie Benoît & Amandine Fillol & Maria Munoz-Bertrand & Marie-Jo Ouimet & Jill Hanley & Valéry Ridde, 2020. "The negative self-perceived health of migrants with precarious status in Montreal, Canada: A cross-sectional study," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 15(4), pages 1-22, April.
    9. Roxy Elisabeth Christina Damen & Jaco Dagevos & Willem Huijnk, 2022. "Refugee Reception Re-examined: a Quantitative Study on the Impact of the Reception Period for Mental Health and Host Country Language Proficiency Among Syrian Refugees in the Netherlands," Journal of International Migration and Integration, Springer, vol. 23(1), pages 1-21, March.
    10. Nicolas Vignier & Annabel Desgrées du Loû & Julie Pannetier & Andrainolo Ravalihasy & Anne Gosselin & France Lert & Nathalie Lydié & Olivier Bouchaud & Rosemary Dray Spira & the PARCOURS Study Group, 2018. "Access to health insurance coverage among sub-Saharan African migrants living in France: Results of the ANRS-PARCOURS study," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 13(2), pages 1-18, February.
    11. Vázquez, María Luisa & Terraza-Núñez, Rebeca & S-Hernández, Silvia & Vargas, Ingrid & Bosch, Lola & González, Andrea & Pequeño, Sandra & Cantos, Raquel & Martínez, Juan Ignacio & López, Luís Andrés, 2013. "Are migrants health policies aimed at improving access to quality healthcare? An analysis of Spanish policies," Health Policy, Elsevier, vol. 113(3), pages 236-246.
    12. James Smith, 2016. "Thinking beyond borders: reconceptualising migration to better meet the needs of people in transit," International Journal of Public Health, Springer;Swiss School of Public Health (SSPH+), vol. 61(5), pages 521-522, June.
    13. Solvig Ekblad & Ulla-Britt Persson-Valenzuela, 2014. "Lifestyle Course as an Investment in Perceived Improved Health among Newly Arrived Women from Countries outside Europe," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 11(10), pages 1-19, October.
    14. Van Natta, Meredith & Burke, Nancy J. & Yen, Irene H. & Fleming, Mark D. & Hanssmann, Christoph L. & Rasidjan, Maryani Palupy & Shim, Janet K., 2019. "Stratified citizenship, stratified health: Examining latinx legal status in the U.S. healthcare safety net," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 220(C), pages 49-55.
    15. Line Neerup Handlos & Karen Fog Olwig & Ib Christian Bygbjerg & Maria Kristiansen & Marie Louise Norredam, 2015. "Return Migration among Elderly, Chronically Ill Bosnian Refugees: Does Health Matter?," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 12(10), pages 1-19, October.
    16. Philip Anglewicz & Mark VanLandingham & Lucinda Manda-Taylor & Hans-Peter Kohler, 2018. "Health Selection, Migration, and HIV Infection in Malawi," Demography, Springer;Population Association of America (PAA), vol. 55(3), pages 979-1007, June.
    17. Miao, Siyu & Xiao, Yang, 2020. "Does acculturation really matter for internal migrants’ health?Evidence from eight cities in China," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 260(C).
    18. Corie Gray & Gemma Crawford & Bruce Maycock & Roanna Lobo, 2021. "Socioecological Factors Influencing Sexual Health Experiences and Health Outcomes of Migrant Asian Women Living in ‘Western’ High-Income Countries: A Systematic Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(5), pages 1-14, March.
    19. Jude Alawa & Parmida Zarei & Kaveh Khoshnood, 2019. "Evaluating the Provision of Health Services and Barriers to Treatment for Chronic Diseases among Syrian Refugees in Turkey: A Review of Literature and Stakeholder Interviews," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(15), pages 1-12, July.
    20. Helena Legido-Quigley & Fiona Leh Hoon Chuah & Natasha Howard, 2020. "Southeast Asian health system challenges and responses to the ‘Andaman Sea refugee crisis’: A qualitative study of health-sector perspectives from Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, and Thailand," PLOS Medicine, Public Library of Science, vol. 17(11), pages 1-22, November.

    More about this item

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:plo:pone00:0218669. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: plosone (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://journals.plos.org/plosone/ .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.