Determinants of healthcare utilisation by migrant workers in the State of Qatar

Labour migration enables populations to adjust to changing economic and social conditions, yet often precipitates increased health risks. Few previous studies examined healthcare utilisation by migrant workers. This study aimed to examine the healthcare utilisation by migrant workers in Qatar.

In 2011, Qatar launched National Health Strategy 2011-2016, phasing in Universal Health Care accessible to both Qataris and non-Qataris. Qatar's high proportion of foreign migrant workers to Qatari citizens is unique, estimated at 5:1. Multivariate analysis on Household Utilization and Expenditure Survey (HUES) 2014 data yielded determinant factors for healthcare utilisation by migrant workers in Qatar.

In nationally-representative sampling, the proportion of migrant labourers accessing outpatient care was only half of expatriates and Qataris, with inpatient care utilisation even less. Results suggest all forms of health insurance coverage had protective effects for expatriate and labourer healthcare utilisation. Specifically, such protective impact on all migrant groups' inpatient care use was much greater than outpatient.

This study highlights differences in the pattern of care-seeking and total health expenditure across migrant worker groups in Qatar. Improving health insurance coverage to migrant worker groups can promote higher utilisation of care, and thereby reduce health disparities of migrant workers to better protect their health and productivity.