HA NOI – The International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the Ministry of Health (MOH) of Viet Nam strengthened their collaboration to enhance cooperation in promoting the health and well-being of migrants and promote their inclusion in national health systems and policies through a new Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed on 18 September 2024.

The MoU reflects nearly 40 years of collaboration between IOM and MOH, which began in the early 1980s. Over the years, this partnership has grown from IOM health assessment programmes for populations moving to destination countries to public health efforts that facilitate better access to health-care services for migrants, strengthen cross-border disease control, and public health emergency response and preparedness.

Viet Nam has become a significant source of migrants, particularly those seeking employment opportunities abroad. Recent data shows a resurgence in international labour migration, with approximately 155,000 Vietnamese citizens securing employment abroad in 2023 alone, equivalent to nearly a third of the new workers entering the labour market.

Similar to other countries in the ASEAN region, the burden of health issues in Viet Nam remains complex, including infectious diseases, occupational health hazards and injuries, mental health challenges, non-communicable diseases (such as cardiovascular disease and diabetes), and maternal and child health problems. Infectious diseases like Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), tuberculosis (TB), and malaria continue to be significant concerns.

Moreover, achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC) remains a challenging goal and presents an even greater challenge for migrants. Recent studies conducted by IOM in the region have highlighted the challenges faced by cross-border migrants in accessing healthcare, including language barriers, discrimination, financial constraints, lack of portable health insurance across borders, and lack of official cross-border referral mechanisms for migrant patients. They can be made even more vulnerable in pandemic situations due to inadequate access to needed health care and services, as shown during the COVID-19 pandemic.

IOM's Chief of Mission in Viet Nam, Ms Park Mihyung, stressed the importance of this timely collaborations to ensure the health and well-being of migrants, aligning with the goals of the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly, and Regular Migration (GCM) and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

“In a world where an increasing number of people are on the move, collaborations and partnerships are crucial to enhance the health and well-being of migrants. Healthy migrants contribute to healthy communities.” Ms Park Mi-Hyung said.

“The agreement that IOM and the Ministry of Health signed today sets forth the framework for enhanced health cooperation and partnership between our agencies.  As the leading UN Agency for Migration, IOM commits to a longstanding and strategic partnership with Viet Nam, and in particular with the Ministry of Health, to ensure the health and well-being of all, including our migrants. We look forward to deepening our already close cooperation,” Ms Park Mi-Hyung added.

In Viet Nam, IOM has made significant contributions to migrant health. Some notable initiatives include the facilitation of a TB cross-border control mechanism, with 200 Vietnamese and Cambodian health professionals trained on using the DHIS2 cross-border referral system and the establishment of the Migrant Health Working Group (MHWG), a coordination mechanism to manage migrant health issues and develop migrant-friendly health interventions and policies. Through MHWG, IOM has raised awareness of health literacy for more than 23,500 migrant workers working in Japan and the Republic of Korea through innovative health handbooks.

For further information, please contact IOM Vietnam: Nguyen Ngoc Tram, National Communications Officer. Email: ngocnguyen@iom.int | Mobile: 0912893964