Free HIV treatment for foreigners.

Danthus · 28 Feb 2012 at 11:04

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-17187179

Foreign nationals are to be offered free treatment for HIV on the NHS under plans backed by the government.

Campaigners say the move in England will reduce the risk of Britons being infected and cut the costs of more expensive later treatment.

Currently only British residents are eligible, which excludes migrants.

The Department of Health said it would bring England into line with Scotland and Wales, and there would be safeguards against "health tourism".

Extend treatment
There are an estimated 25,000 people with undiagnosed HIV in Britain, many of whom were born abroad.

People from overseas cannot be treated for the condition unless they pay, which is not the case for other infectious diseases.

This group of people includes failed asylum seekers, students and tourists.

Conservative former cabinet minister Lord Fowler, who headed the government's Aids awareness campaign in the 1980s, has called for an amendment to the Health and Social Care Bill currently before the Lords.

This would extend free treatment to those who have been in Britain for six months.

The proposal will be introduced by the government in a Statutory Instrument rather than as part of the legislation.

How is this going to be funded and resourced?

pingwing · 28 Feb 2012 at 11:06

Leprechaun gold! How else is this country funded?

Danthus · 28 Feb 2012 at 11:07

Reading it again, why are we going to treat failed asylum seekers, should we not be deporting them?

Nitefly · 28 Feb 2012 at 11:08

I don't agree with the notion that just because someone isn't born here they shouldn't be given treatment for miserable diseases...

Jay794 · 28 Feb 2012 at 11:09

OldCoals said:
Reading it again, why are we going to treat failed asylum seekers, should we not be deporting them?

This.

Jingo... · 28 Feb 2012 at 11:09

This smacks of 'backlash spin' following the recent NHS debates.

Deadbeat · 28 Feb 2012 at 11:09

Nitefly said:
I don't agree with the notion that just because someone isn't born here they shouldn't be given treatment for miserable diseases...

You're clearly one of those wishy washy leftie liberals that'll be the death of this country, then, aren't you?

Andy · 28 Feb 2012 at 11:10

MP's doing something right for a change. Something smells fishy!

Nitefly · 28 Feb 2012 at 11:11

Deadbeat said:
You're clearly one of those wishy washy leftie liberals that'll be the death of this country, then, aren't you?

I genuinely can't tell if this is sarcastic or not

Superficial · 28 Feb 2012 at 11:11

Nitefly said:
I don't agree with the notion that just because someone isn't born here they shouldn't be given treatment for miserable diseases...

It's the difference between morality and financial practicality.

In this case I would grudgingly say we *may* need to pursue this as this is a terribly infectious disease.....you're really protecting the dometic populace by proxy.

As for the 'deport them don't treat them' argument - of course this has resonance but one can only assume that the deportation process takes a while (appeals etc) and this is protection in the interim pehaps.

culvers · 28 Feb 2012 at 11:15

yet more spin to turn people against eachother, the costs of this is a drop in the ocean compared to the TRILLIONS that have been stolen from the taxpayer and given to the elites. At least this money is doing some good and helping people who need it.

Dont take your eye of the ball, your anger should be directed at the real theft that has taken place in this country

Mucky_Pup · 28 Feb 2012 at 11:17

Meanwhile a life long tax payer lies dying in bed because the treatment or medicine they need is £50 out of budget guidelines, utter crap!

Captain Chaos · 28 Feb 2012 at 11:19

Mucky_Pup said:
Meanwhile a life long tax payer lies dying in bed because the treatment or medicine they need is £50 out of budget guidelines, utter crap!

Have to agree, Makes a vaid argument, treatment does cost money so where does it come from???

Then again should we turn our backs on those that need help?

bloodiedathame · 28 Feb 2012 at 11:24

colthillary said:
Have to agree, Makes a vaid argument, treatment does cost money so where does it come from???

Then again should we turn our backs on those that need help?

Seconded. And surely prevention is better than treatment, there is naff all visible info out and about or on TV about HIV/AIDS and it's prevention.

Strife212 · 28 Feb 2012 at 11:35

Surely this will lead to the unintended consequence of every single person with HIV coming to the UK? If you were in a poor country and had HIV why wouldn't you?

Burnsy2023 · 28 Feb 2012 at 11:36

Mucky_Pup said:
Meanwhile a life long tax payer lies dying in bed because the treatment or medicine they need is £50 out of budget guidelines, utter crap!

You should this isn't the case. Very few drugs aren't funded by the NHS and they all only increase lifespan by a maximum of a few months.

One · 28 Feb 2012 at 11:40

I think we should neuter immigrants by removal of the penis and sewing shut the vaginas. This would solve a lot of problems including the spread of AIDS.

Sime · 28 Feb 2012 at 11:41

Strife212 said:
Surely this will lead to the unintended consequence of every single person with HIV coming to the UK? If you were in a poor country and had HIV why wouldn't you?

This is what im thinking too.

One · 28 Feb 2012 at 11:43

Strife212 said:
Surely this will lead to the unintended consequence of every single person with HIV coming to the UK? If you were in a poor country and had HIV why wouldn't you?

They all try to get here anyway, this won't really change anything. Besides, the majority of poor people with aids think having sex with a virgin girl will cure them.

edscdk · 28 Feb 2012 at 11:48

colthillary said:
Have to agree, Makes a vaid argument, treatment does cost money so where does it come from???

Then again should we turn our backs on those that need help?

we allow millions to starve and die from disease by not helping them, why should someone who hides on a train / lorry / travels here on false papers be treated any different...?