Promoting and Integrating Inclusive and Migrant Friendly Health Assessment Services in the National Health System of Sri Lanka

The Ministry of Health reported that migrants in Sri Lanka are often deported following health assessments after arrival in the destination country. Tuberculosis (TB) is a key reason for the deportation of migrants originating from Asian countries including Sri Lanka.

To develop national guidelines on migrant sensitive health assessments, this project will conduct five main activities including:

1) Assessment of the various health assessment practices with a focus on TB.

2) Develop a common position paper on migrant friendly health assessment highlighting importance of continuity of care and minimizing unjustified deportations of migrants.

3) Conduct an international technical consultation to develop migrant friendly health assessment criteria including representatives from receiving countries in South East Asia, TB experts, countries of destination, and sending countries accredit by the Gulf Approved Medical Centres Association (GAMCA).

4) Multi-stakeholder consultation to integrate migration health assessment with national public health surveillance and information systems in Sri Lanka.

5) Training of Ministry of Health staff and launch of migrant friendly gender sensitive health assessment guidelines.