National Migrant Health Policy unveiled

The National Migrant Health Policy has been launched.

The policy was launched by Minister of Health Abdulla Nazim Ibrahim.

The policy was developed based on practices in regional countries, through a series of consultations involving the Ministry of Health, Health Protection Agency (HPA), International Organization for Migration (IOM), and relevant government institutions, civil society organizations, and international organizations.

The IOM Development Fund provided technical and financial assistance in developing this policy.

The National Migrant Health Policy aims to strengthen the protection of health and provision of necessary healthcare services to foreigners living in the Maldives, as well as to improve public health for foreigners through the country's health system. It is also a significant policy formulated to ensure the most comprehensive basic health rights for people living in the Maldives, in line with the government's ongoing efforts and to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The objective of the National Migrant Health Policy is to reduce the prevalence of diseases among foreigners living in the Maldives and improve their health status at all stages of migration cycles through a multi-sector coordination mechanism involving all responsible sectors.

It also aims to maintain the health status of foreigners living in the Maldives under a sustainable system, provide appropriate treatment and other services to patients, and reduce the challenges in accessing healthcare.

The ceremony was attended by Iori Kato, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) representative for Asia and the Pacific region, and Hao Zhang, the United Nations Resident Coordinator in the Maldives.