Analysis of Policies to Protect the Health of Urban Refugees and Asylum Seekers in Thailand: A Qualitative Study and Delphi Survey.

Sataporn Julchoo,Watinee Kunpeuk,Rapeepong Suphanchaimat,Pigunkaew Sinam,Mathudara Phaiyarom,Nareerut Pudpong

doi:10.3390/ijerph182010566

Abstract

The health of urban refugees and asylum seekers (URAS) in Bangkok has been neglected and health policies for USAR have not materialized. This study aimed to explore the views of stakeholders on policies to protect URAS well-being in Thailand. This study conducted a mixed-methods approach comprising both in-depth interviews and Delphi survey. The interview findings revealed six main themes: (1) the government position on URAS; (2) opinions on Thailand becoming a party of the 1951 Refugee Convention; (3) NGOs on health promotion for URAS; (4) options on health insurance management for URAS; (5) working potential of URAS; and (6) uncertainty of future life plans for URAS. The Delphi survey showed that URAS should have the right to acquire a work permit and be enrolled in the public insurance scheme managed by the Ministry of Public Health. Moreover, the ideology of national security was more influential than the concept of human rights. The ambiguity of the central authorities’ policy direction to take care of URAS creates haphazard legal interpretations. The Delphi survey findings suggested the need for a more inclusive policy for URAS, however actual policy implementation requires further research on policy feasibility and acceptance by the wider public.

Highlights

As of 2019, the estimated number of migrants internationally amounted to 272 million, equivalent to about 3.5% of the world’s population [1]
We identified six main themes from the interviews: (i) the Thai Government position on urban refugees and asylum seekers (URAS); (ii) opinions on Thailand becoming a party of the 1951 Refugee Convention; (iii) non-government organizations on health promotion for URAS; (iv) options on health insurance management for URAS; (v) working potential of URAS; and (vi) uncertainty of future life plans for URAS
The Delphi survey among 13 experts found that the issues that the participants agreed upon most were that URAS should have the right to work, the right to buy Ministry of Public Health (MOPH) health insurance or insurance provided by the private sector, the right to access basic education, the right to live outside the detention centers, and the right to receive medical benefits that cover treatment for public health threats and conditions

Summary

Introduction

As of 2019, the estimated number of migrants internationally amounted to 272 million, equivalent to about 3.5% of the world’s population [1]. In 2019, there were 79.5 million forcedly displaced people around the world. 26 million were refugees, and 3.5 million were asylum seekers [2]. The volume of refugees worldwide has greatly increased from 10 million to 26 million in the last decade. 68% of refugees globally originated from five countries, including Afghanistan, Myanmar, South Sudan, Syria, and Venezuela. The major refugee crises that contributed to massive displacement of people were the exodus of the Rohingya people from Myanmar to Bangladesh and the conflict in Arab countries that caused the unprecedented outflow of refugees from countries including Syria, Iraq, and Libya into Europe [2]

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Conclusion