Youth Lead and APTN are proud to present our latest collaborative report – Transgender Youth Inclusion in Healthcare in Southeast Asia: Insights from Indonesia, Thailand and the Philippines.
This report emphasizes the need to align transgender healthcare with the country and cultural context in Southeast Asia by involving a participatory approach involving community leaders and experts, in developing healthcare policies, guidelines, and regulations. It suggests that there are significant variations between countries in understanding gender and transgender health guidelines, making it crucial to develop trans-inclusive health policies and clinical pathways, including for people under 18 years of age.
The report takes into consideration multiple barriers to care, including the lack of available services, providers’ lack of knowledge, financial cost, difficulty in pathways, and discrimination; and the resulting effects that are impacting the transgender and gender diverse community in the affected countries.
Universal healthcare coverage and insurance, inclusive of gender-affirming care, mental health, and general healthcare, is a top priority for transgender individuals in their social safety net. Many respondents pay for transgender healthcare privately, indicating a structural barrier to access, especially for economically disadvantaged populations. Healthcare inclusion for trans individuals should be guaranteed using a human rights-based approach, with availability, accessibility, acceptability, and quality being of utmost importance.
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