6/22/2021 South Asia’s migrants share problems, share solutions | Nepali Times Saran Rai and his friends, who filed a case against Goodyear in Malaysia. Examples like these remind us of the power of collective bargaining but also that there is just not enough practical cooperation for common causes. For example, migrant deaths is a common issue of concern (https://www.nepalitimes.com/here-now/fifa-a-chance-to-improve-welfare-of-nepaliworkers-in-qatar/), and a recent report by The Guardian on the death of 6,500 South Asian migrants in Qatar in the last decade drew global attention. This is not the first time that migrant deaths has been covered, nor is the problem of migrant deaths unique to Qatar, but it riled up a global audience. However, what really matters is if the outrage turns into action. For more tangible outcomes to address the concerns regarding migrant deaths, Prof Jureidini stresses on the need to expand the pre-departure medical tests to also include ECG and ultrasound so that pre-existing heart conditions, if any, are caught on time. The presence of Qatar Visa Centers in key sending countries have made document processing more efficient and eliminated the need for post-arrival medical examinations by using accredited medical institutions, he says. “Many deaths registered in Qatar are categorised as unexplained cardiac arrests but the time is now ripe for governments, medical and public health personnel to collaborate to find an explanation,” he adds. “There is a lot of misinformation and accusations surrounding migrant deaths that are not grounded in proper medical investigations and it offers a space for 58stakeholders to intervene in a collaborative manner.” Shares https://www.nepalitimes.com/opinion/south-asias-migrants-shared-problems-share-solutions/ 12/19