28.02.11
Foreign nationals to get free HIV treatment on NHS
The Government is to change guidelines to allow the NHS to offer free treatment for HIV to foreign nationals, with the aim of reducing the number of Britons infected and cutting the costs of more expensive treatment later.
Currently, only British residents are eligible for the free treatment, excluding migrants. It is estimated that there are 25,000 people with undiagnosed HIV in Britain. At the moment people from overseas can only be treated for the condition if they pay, which is not the case for other infectious diseases.
The Department of Health said that the plans would extend free treatment to those who have been in Britain for six months, bringing England into line with Scotland and Wales.
Public health minister Anne Milton said: “This measure will protect the public and brings HIV treatment in to line with all other infectious diseases. Treating people with HIV means they are very unlikely to pass the infection on to others.”
Yusef Azad, director of policy at the National Aids Trust, said: “If someone is tested and treated early, it is much cheaper than them presenting themselves in hospital with a much more serious, complex condition that can cost tens of thousands of pounds to treat.”
Critics claim the decision could put the NHS under further financial pressure, and prompt “health tourism”. However, the Department of Health said there would be safeguards put in place against this, and that it would be difficult for someone to come to the UK specifically for treatment as the process will take months to administer and monitor.
The proposal will be introduced by the Government in a Statutory Instrument.
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