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5.5 Unanswered questions future research
The health seeking behaviour of foreign workers in other employment sectors needs to be studied. There is a need to obtain a larger sample for illegal foreign workers
to understand their health seeking behaviour and a mechanism for funding.
6.0 CONCLUSION RECOMMENDATIONS
6.1 Conclusion
This study shows that foreign workers do not seem to have problems in seeking health care. Access to care is a problem in the agriculture sector in terms of geographical
location. Both legal and illegal workers seek health care for serious and mild illness. Legal and illegal foreign workers appear to understand serious illness and take
appropriate action accordingly.
6.2 Recommendations
Based on the study findings, we wish to make the following recommendations: 1.
There is a need to improve access to health care for workers in the agriculture sector.
2. Employers of the agriculture industries must be responsible to provide onsite
health care facilities, panel doctors or transport to the nearest government or private hospital or clinic.
3. Relevant government authorities must be responsible to make sure employers
are providing healthcare to their foreign workers, especially those in the agriculture sector.
4. Initiation of a multi-agency meeting with the involvement of the Perak
government to improve health care service delivery to foreign workers especially those in the agricultural sector.
REFERENCES
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3. World Tuberculosis Report 2008, WHO.
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5. WHO Weekly Epidemiological record4 AUGUST 2006, 81st YEAR 4 AOÛT 2006,
81e ANNÉE No. 31, 2006, 81, 297-308. Available from: http:www.who.intwer 6.
Maimunah AH, Sondi S, Sing LM, Safurah J, Haniza MA, John A, et al. National Health and Morbidity Survey 1996. Public Health Institute, 1999.
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7. Babar T. Shaikh. Understanding social determinants of health seeking behaviours,
providing a rational framework for health policy and systems development. J Pak Med Assoc 2008;581:33-6.
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ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
The authors wish to thank the Director-General of Health Malaysia for giving permission to publish this paper. We would like to extend our highest gratitude to the Perak State
Health Department for their endorsement of this health systems research programme.
Our sincere thanks are also extended to all facilitators of this research project for their invaluable guidance and support.
Lastly, we also appreciate the assistance from all staff of Clinical Research Centre Perak, Grik Health District, health inspectors, assistant health inspectors, and community nurses
who worked endlessly during the fieldwork and for their cooperation in conducting this research till its fruition.
