Foreign Worker Care in Primary Care: A Challenge to the Nurses’ Role

Abstract

Nowadays, there are many foreign workers in Thailand and their number rises every year. This situation affects the health care system and the health status of people in Thailand. Foreign workers have both health and work safety problems, but little access to health care services. This is an issue that employers should recognize and give priority. Primary care units are the first stage where most foreign workers have access and can receive services. This article aims to present primary care policies and strategies for foreign worker health care, health insurance for foreign workers, arrangements of health services for foreign workers’ primary care, and nurses’ roles in foreign worker care. Nurses’ care encompasses four dimensions of health promotion, disease prevention, treatment, and rehabilitation integrated through the transcultural nursing concept. It is a challenging role for nurses to care for the health of this population in primary care, to elevate the quality of the work life of foreign workers, which will leading to a quality in the labor force maintaining a balance of public health, security, economy, and human rights in Thailand.