Hidden cost of migration: 57pc of returnees denied medical care abroad burdened with loans

A new study revealed on Sunday that 57 per cent of Bangladeshi migrants who were denied medical care in destination countries incurred significant financial burdens at home. On average, these migrants took loans of Tk 90,000 for medical purposes after being refused treatment abroad, according to a study by Ovibashi Karmi Unnayan Program (Okup).

The study also highlighted the large sums of money being remitted out of the country through illegal channels to cover treatment costs for migrant workers and to pay for return tickets for migrants with health complications. There is no official tracking of these funds, the study pointed out.

The report, titled "Health of Bangladeshi Migrant Workers: A Hidden Cost of Migration Burdening Socioeconomic Development," surveyed 1,096 returnee migrants. Okup Chairperson Shakirul Islam presented the study findings.

Of the total, only 334 (30 per cent) migrant workers received treatment in destination countries, primarily for physical health issues, while 762 (70 per cent) were forced to return. 

"Of them, 57 per cent (those who were forced to return) took loans for treatment as they had no other options," said the report.

Twenty-seven per cent of migrant workers reported that their employers deducted treatment expenses from their salaries. Meanwhile, 10 per cent of those who paid for their medical treatment abroad with their own money mostly borrowed the funds from home.

"Due to early returns for health complications and the deduction of treatment costs from workers' salaries, Bangladesh loses a significant amount of remittances every year," the report projected.

Bangladesh is the 8th largest labour-sending country globally, with around 17 million Bangladeshis migrating for overseas jobs between 1976 and 2024, averaging about 340,000 people annually.

Okup conducted the study among returnees who sought support from 2020 to 2023 in seven districts, including Cumilla, Dhaka, Faridpur, Narsingdi, Narayanganj, Manikganj, and Munshiganj.

Islam noted that migrant workers are recruited as completely fit for work through mandatory health tests but are often sent back home or deported if they fall ill.

The study also found that mental health issues outweighed physical health problems among returnees. A total of 52 per cent of the returnees surveyed faced mental health challenges, while 48 per cent dealt with physical health issues.

The majority (55 per cent) of returnees came from Saudi Arabia. Back pain (25 per cent) was identified as the most common health problem faced upon return, followed by tumours (12 per cent), cardiac and injury-related complications (11 per cent), and other severe conditions such as cancer, kidney, and uterine infections.

Some returnee migrants shared their experiences of mistreatment abroad, particularly being deprived of healthcare support by their employers.

Prof Mohammad Mainul Islam from the Department of Population Sciences at the University of Dhaka, Md Gheas Uddin, Joint Secretary and Director at WEWB, Md Abdul Wadud from DGHS, Md. Mazharul Islam from ILO, and Md SM Morshed, National Expert at IOM Bangladesh, were among the panellists at the event.

Mohammad Shaheen, Joint Secretary of the Ministry of Expatriate Welfare and Overseas Employment, spoke as the Chief Guest. He emphasised the need for greater awareness among people wishing to become migrant workers.

Acknowledging the limitations and coordination gaps among government agencies, Shaheen stressed the importance of carefully reviewing employment contracts before migration.