Regional: Greater Mekong Subregion Border Areas Health Project
The proposed project will support the Governments of Cambodia, Lao People's Democratic Republic (Lao PDR), and Myanmar to enhance regional integration and economic cooperation in the Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS). A cofinancing and knowledge partnership with the Government of Thailand will be explored during the project design. The proposed project will improve access to health services for men and women migrant workers in the GMS border special economic zones (SEZ) through social infrastructure development and health financing support. The proposed project showcases the comparative advantage of the Asian Development Bank (ADB) in the GMS, building on ongoing support for health security, migrant population health, communicable disease control, and health systems strengthening.
Project Details
-
Project Officer
Elfving, Rikard N.
Southeast Asia Department
Request for information -
Country/Economy
Regional -
Sector
- Health
Project Name | Greater Mekong Subregion Border Areas Health Project | ||||||||
Project Number | 53290-001 | ||||||||
Country / Economy | Regional Cambodia |
||||||||
Project Status | Proposed | ||||||||
Project Type / Modality of Assistance | Grant Loan |
||||||||
Source of Funding / Amount |
|
||||||||
Strategic Agendas | Environmentally sustainable growth Inclusive economic growth Regional integration |
||||||||
Drivers of Change | Gender Equity and Mainstreaming Governance and capacity development Knowledge solutions Partnerships Private sector development |
||||||||
Sector / Subsector | Health / Disease control of communicable disease - Disease control of non-communicable diseases and other priority programs - Health care finance - Health insurance and subsidized health programs |
||||||||
Gender Equity and Mainstreaming | Effective gender mainstreaming | ||||||||
Description | The proposed project will support the Governments of Cambodia, Lao People's Democratic Republic (Lao PDR), and Myanmar to enhance regional integration and economic cooperation in the Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS). A cofinancing and knowledge partnership with the Government of Thailand will be explored during the project design. The proposed project will improve access to health services for men and women migrant workers in the GMS border special economic zones (SEZ) through social infrastructure development and health financing support. The proposed project showcases the comparative advantage of the Asian Development Bank (ADB) in the GMS, building on ongoing support for health security, migrant population health, communicable disease control, and health systems strengthening. | ||||||||
Project Rationale and Linkage to Country/Regional Strategy | SEZs are driving economic growth in the GMS regional economic corridors. Over the past 50 years, SEZs have been successful in promoting export- and foreign-direct investment in Asia, providing strategic support for new policies and innovations. Since the establishment of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Economic Community in 2015, the number of SEZs has grown significantly. Currently, over 500 SEZs exist in the GMS region (excluding the People's Republic of China), and they are increasingly located in border zones to better access low cost labor, power, transport, and trading opportunities with neighboring countries. Low-cost migrant labor helps drive SEZ border development. SEZs benefit from low labor costs by hiring migrant workers. In 2018, estimates show that roughly 3.9 million migrants came to Thailand from Cambodia, Lao PDR, Myanmar, and Viet Nam. Migrant workers constitute over 10% of the 38.7 million Thai labor force, contribute around 6.6% of gross domestic product in Thailand, and send about $2.8 billion in remittances to their home countries. Further, migrant workers contribute significantly to the local economy, especially in border economic zones. The benefits of migration are not one way a recent study shows that two-thirds of migrant workers returning to Myanmar who reportedly had worked in Thailand have improved their financial situation. Migrant workers are particularly vulnerable to health care shocks due to lack of financial protection, job security or family support. For women migrant workers, access to basic health care services is critical, especially sexual and reproductive services and protection from gender-based violence, which is currently lacking in many SEZs across the region. SEZs underinvest in health leading to poor health outcomes. Existing SEZs have prioritized industrial parks as economic hubs; and investments in social services, like health services, are lacking. SEZs' capacity to provide health services is strained by the growing number of migrants. The situation is worsened due to poorly maintained hospitals, outdated equipment, and under-capacitated staff to meet growing demand. Few private hospitals are operational and affordable for most migrants, with statistics showing disease burdens to be higher in SEZ provinces than in non-SEZ provinces. Rates of suicide were higher in the 10 SEZ provinces of Thailand than nationwide, which may reflect the poorer socioeconomic outcomes in these areas. In Kayin State (Myanmar) and Savannakhet Province (Lao PDR), studies found much higher malaria infection rates than in the general population. As the region integrates further and countries establish more border SEZs, health investments in SEZs become more critical. Low standards on occupational and environmental health for migrants. Industries located within SEZs often require work with hazardous chemicals, repetitive work, and awkward working postures, which have severe health effects. SEZs have weak enforcement of core labor standards, and rarely promote safe working conditions. As a result, adherence to environment and safety protocols often falls short of recommended standards. For women laborers, the problems are more complex, as access to sexual and reproductive health care is often limited. No GMS country covers health care costs outside their borders. GMS countries, to different degrees, are ensuring health financial protection for their citizens: Thailand has a universal health coverage scheme, which allows those without employment-related health insurance access to free health facilities; Myanmar is working on providing an essential health service package to all for free; Lao PDR's national health insurance covers the majority of the population; and Cambodia's three major schemes are currently being merged to provide a comprehensive health protection framework. However, no regional, mutually beneficial health financing scheme currently exists to financially support migrants' access to health care. Only Thailand has a health insurance scheme for incoming registered migrants (compulsory migrant health insurance) provided by the Ministry of Public Health, and health insurance for formal sector workers under Social Security. Despite this, only 51% of Cambodia, the Lao PDR, Myanmar, and Viet Nam migrants in Thailand have any form of health insurance. Without coverage, migrants defer seeking necessary health care services. Moreover, many health facilities in border towns (especially in Thailand) are obliged to treat migrants should they need care; as a result, if the migrant is unable to pay, the facility (and therefore, the Thai government) is liable to pay the bill. |
||||||||
Impact | GMS cross border collaboration and migrant workers' quality of life improved (ASEAN Consensus on the Protection and Promotion of the Rights of Migrant Workers) | ||||||||
Outcome | Access to affordable health services by men and women migrant workers in selected SEZs improved | ||||||||
Outputs | Inclusive cross-border and subregional cooperation on universal health coverage for men and women migrant and mobile populations improved Health care service delivery in selected SEZs strengthened. Regional health financing mechanism established |
||||||||
Geographical Location | Cambodia - Nation-wide |
Safeguard Categories | |
---|---|
Environment | B |
Involuntary Resettlement | B |
Indigenous Peoples | B |
Summary of Environmental and Social Aspects | |
---|---|
Environmental Aspects | |
Involuntary Resettlement | |
Indigenous Peoples | |
Stakeholder Communication, Participation, and Consultation | |
During Project Design | |
During Project Implementation |
Responsible ADB Officer | Elfving, Rikard N. |
Responsible ADB Department | Southeast Asia Department |
Responsible ADB Division | Human and Social Development Division, SERD |
Executing Agencies |
Asian Development Bank 6 ADB Avenue, Mandaluyong City 1550, Philippines Ministry of Health No. 151-153, Avenue Kampuchea Krom 1537 Phnom Penh Kingdom of Cambodia Ministry of Health Simuang Road Viantiane LAO PDR Ministry of Health and Sports Office No. 4, Naypyitaw, Myanmar Ministry of Public Health Bangkok Thailand National Economic and Social Dev. Board 962 Krung Kasem Road Bangkok 10100 Thailand |
Timetable | |
---|---|
Concept Clearance | 04 Dec 2019 |
Fact Finding | 10 Jan 2022 to 10 Jan 2022 |
MRM | 01 Feb 2022 |
Approval | - |
Last Review Mission | - |
Last PDS Update | 09 Dec 2019 |
Project Data Sheets (PDS) contain summary information on the project or program. Because the PDS is a work in progress, some information may not be included in its initial version but will be added as it becomes available. Information about proposed projects is tentative and indicative.
The Access to Information Policy (AIP) recognizes that transparency and accountability are essential to development effectiveness. It establishes the disclosure requirements for documents and information ADB produces or requires to be produced.
The Accountability Mechanism provides a forum where people adversely affected by ADB-assisted projects can voice and seek solutions to their problems and report alleged noncompliance of ADB's operational policies and procedures.
In preparing any country program or strategy, financing any project, or by making any designation of, or reference to, a particular territory or geographic area in this document, the Asian Development Bank does not intend to make any judgments as to the legal or other status of any territory or area.
Title | Document Type | Document Date |
---|---|---|
Greater Mekong Subregion Healthy Border Special Economic Zones Project: Initial Poverty and Social Analysis | Initial Poverty and Social Analysis | Dec 2019 |
Safeguard Documents See also: Safeguards
Safeguard documents provided at the time of project/facility approval may also be found in the list of linked documents provided with the Report and Recommendation of the President.
None currently available.
Evaluation Documents See also: Independent Evaluation
None currently available.
Related Publications
None currently available.
The Access to Information Policy (AIP) establishes the disclosure requirements for documents and information ADB produces or requires to be produced in its operations to facilitate stakeholder participation in ADB's decision-making. For more information, refer to the Safeguard Policy Statement, Operations Manual F1, and Operations Manual L3.
Requests for information may also be directed to the InfoUnit.
Tenders
No tenders for this project were found.
Contracts Awarded
No contracts awarded for this project were found
Procurement Plan
None currently available.