The first Migrant Worker Gaining Access to Health Protection through the M-FUND Sa Kaeo Program

Channa Poum, a 30-year-old woman originally from Phnom Penh, Cambodia, migrated to Thailand at the age of 14 with her parents in search of job opportunities. The family settled in Aranyaprathet District, Sa Kaeo Province. Later, she built a family with her Thai husband and continued to reside within a migrant community.

While living in Thailand, Ms. Channa experienced health issues that required hospitalization at Aranyaprathet Hospital. At that time, she lacked any form of health insurance, resulting in significant out-of-pocket expenses.

Following this experience, she inquired with hospital staff about how migrant workers could access health protection. She was introduced to the M-FUND.

Channa contacted the project team and enrolled in the program on September 6, 2019, becoming the first migrant worker in Sakaeo Province to join the M-FUND.

Her participation had a ripple effect, inspiring other migrant workers—including her own family members—to also enroll in the program.

In 2020, not long after joining M-FUND, she became pregnant with her first child. She was able to receive antenatal care and deliver her baby at Aranyaprathet Hospital, fully covered by M-FUND. The program supported her with medical costs amounting to approximately 23,000 THB. Having access to safe and affordable healthcare significantly improved the well-being and sense of security for her and her family.

Currently, Channa is pregnant with her second child and is expected to give birth in February 2026. For nearly six years, she has consistently paid her monthly contributions, firmly believing that having health protection is one of the most vital investments for her and her family’s stability.

She concludes, “I hope the M-FUND will continue for as long as possible. This program is a source of hope for people like us, and I will stay with it for as long as it exists.”