Migrants’ Health

Migration is a major global phenomenon, with nearly 200 million international migrants facing significant challenges in accessing their right to health, especially in host countries. Migrants, particularly undocumented or irregular migrants and those in detention, often encounter discrimination, language and cultural barriers, and legal status issues that limit their access to healthcare.

Today, the number of international migrants is estimated to be over 280 million people, representing more than 3 per cent of the world’s population. Many work in low-paid, precarious jobs, live in overcrowded conditions, or are held in detention centres, where access to health services is limited or completely absent.

Many countries only provide “essential” or “emergency” care to migrants, leaving interpretations to individual healthcare providers and risking discriminatory practices. Key obstacles include lack of health insurance, fear of deportation, inadequate information, unsafe working conditions, vulnerability to abuse and disease, and exclusion from prevention programs.

The International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families (art. 28) stipulates that all migrant workers and their families have the right to emergency medical care for the preservation of their life or the avoidance of irreparable harm to their health. Such care should be provided regardless of any irregularity in their stay or employment. The Convention further protects migrant workers in the workplace and stipulates that they shall enjoy treatment not less favourable than that which applies to nationals of the State of employment in respect of conditions of work, including safety and health.