HIV health tourism: time to end the political rhetoric
We commend the recent BMJ article (1) which systematically refuted Nigel Farage’s allegations of so-called ‘HIV health tourism’. It is deeply concerning that as the election debate comes to a climax, false political claims are increasingly made in a vacuum of scientific evidence.
Farage’s deliberate inflammatory comments undermine public health efforts to tackle the rising incidence of HIV infections in the UK. Research has shown that the majority of migrants only seek HIV testing after the onset of symptomatic disease.(2) UKIP’s anti-immigrant rhetoric will further stigmatise migrants at a time when we desperately need to increase rates of diagnosis.
The article correctly questions the evidence for HIV health tourism. We would further argue that the entire premise of health tourism is unfounded. The current government have been “unable to estimate” the actual number of health tourists entering the UK, instead basing their figures on an absurd theoretical calculation.(3) Evidence of health tourism from the front-line is equally lacking: Doctors of the World reported only 1.6% of migrants at their London-based clinic left their country for health reasons, the majority are here to work, study or escape persecution.(4)
Despite a clear lack of evidence, health tourism continues to be unashamedly used for political gain. This applies to all the major political parties: in recent decades both Labour and Conservative governments have exploited public concerns to justify the introduction of NHS charges for vulnerable migrants. Indeed the Immigration Act 2014 laid the legal foundations for restricting access to health services for anyone without indefinite leave to remain.
The recent unfounded comments by Nigel Farage’s will have long-term damaging public health consequences. Migrants remain indispensable to society, with a net contribution to the UK economy through skilled employment and tax contributions. The NHS faces far more crippling issues than the so-called threat of ‘health tourism’: it is time to end the political rhetoric.
Signed on behalf of Medsin UK
References:
1. Kmietowicz Z. UKIP wrong about HIV data and health tourism, say campaigners. BMJ 2015;350:h1943
2. House of Commons Health Committee. New Developments in Sexual Health and HIV/AIDS Policy. The House of Commons. 2005
3. Prederi. Quantitative assessment of visitor and migrant use of the NHS in England: exploring the data. Prederi, London; 2013
4. Shortall, C. The truth about health tourism. Doctors of the World, London; 2014 http://doctorsoftheworld.org.uk/blog/entry/the-truth-about-health-tourism. (accessed Apr 5, 2015)
Rapid Response:
HIV health tourism: time to end the political rhetoric
We commend the recent BMJ article (1) which systematically refuted Nigel Farage’s allegations of so-called ‘HIV health tourism’. It is deeply concerning that as the election debate comes to a climax, false political claims are increasingly made in a vacuum of scientific evidence.
Farage’s deliberate inflammatory comments undermine public health efforts to tackle the rising incidence of HIV infections in the UK. Research has shown that the majority of migrants only seek HIV testing after the onset of symptomatic disease.(2) UKIP’s anti-immigrant rhetoric will further stigmatise migrants at a time when we desperately need to increase rates of diagnosis.
The article correctly questions the evidence for HIV health tourism. We would further argue that the entire premise of health tourism is unfounded. The current government have been “unable to estimate” the actual number of health tourists entering the UK, instead basing their figures on an absurd theoretical calculation.(3) Evidence of health tourism from the front-line is equally lacking: Doctors of the World reported only 1.6% of migrants at their London-based clinic left their country for health reasons, the majority are here to work, study or escape persecution.(4)
Despite a clear lack of evidence, health tourism continues to be unashamedly used for political gain. This applies to all the major political parties: in recent decades both Labour and Conservative governments have exploited public concerns to justify the introduction of NHS charges for vulnerable migrants. Indeed the Immigration Act 2014 laid the legal foundations for restricting access to health services for anyone without indefinite leave to remain.
The recent unfounded comments by Nigel Farage’s will have long-term damaging public health consequences. Migrants remain indispensable to society, with a net contribution to the UK economy through skilled employment and tax contributions. The NHS faces far more crippling issues than the so-called threat of ‘health tourism’: it is time to end the political rhetoric.
Signed on behalf of Medsin UK
References:
1. Kmietowicz Z. UKIP wrong about HIV data and health tourism, say campaigners. BMJ 2015;350:h1943
2. House of Commons Health Committee. New Developments in Sexual Health and HIV/AIDS Policy. The House of Commons. 2005
3. Prederi. Quantitative assessment of visitor and migrant use of the NHS in England: exploring the data. Prederi, London; 2013
4. Shortall, C. The truth about health tourism. Doctors of the World, London; 2014 http://doctorsoftheworld.org.uk/blog/entry/the-truth-about-health-tourism. (accessed Apr 5, 2015)
Competing interests: No competing interests