Refugee Healthcare in Malaysia

Health is a basic human right. However, refugees don't have the right to health care since Malaysia didn't sign the 1951 UN Convention.

Even if they are able to access public and private health care facilities, it is often hindered by lots of factors, such as high costs, language barrier, transportation issues, and payment issues.

Many organizations have played an integral role in health care services for refugees in Malaysia. For instance, UNHCR, A Call To Serve (ACTS), Buddhist Tzu Chi Foundation, Malaysian Social Research Institute (MSRI) implement primary care services for refugees and asylum seekers whereas NGO MERCY Malaysia provides catch-up vaccination projects for refugee children. Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF, Doctors Without Borders) has been providing healthcare for refugees in Penang since 2015 too.

If you wish to know more, you may access the following websites: Health is a fundamental human right https://www.who.int/.../health-is-a-fundamental-human-right

Public Health in Malaysia https://www.unhcr.org/en-my/public-health-in-malaysia.html

Healthcare for struggling refugee communities in Malaysia https://www.msf.org/healthcare-struggling-refugee...