Sexual health charities issue warning as they hit out at Farage over ‘disappointing’ HIV comments
Leading sexual health charities have slammed Nigel Farage’s comments about HIV, warning that blocking access to medicine “could lead to more people in the UK becoming infected with the disease”.
The Reform UK leader stressed that “someone could just come to Britain and receive expensive NHS treatment”, including for HIV.
He added that the NHS was “not an international healthcare service”.
Reacting to this, the Terrence Higgins Trust said it was “right” that everyone with HIV in the UK should be given access to medicine.
The National Aids Trust added that there was “no evidence that people are coming to the UK to access HIV treatment”.
Speaking at a rally in Aberdeen on Monday night, Mr Farage said: “The idea that someone could just come to Britain and get expensive NHS treatment, whether it’s HIV, hepatitis, whatever.
“The reality is that this is a National Health Service, not an international health service, and taxpayer-paying people deserve much better.”
Responding, Richard Angell, chief executive of the Terrence Higgins Trust, said: “Withholding HIV treatment from anyone in the UK means more people living with HIV because it is likely to go away, and means more people on the NHS becoming ill.
“Having examined the evidence closely, David Cameron was right to ensure that everyone with HIV in the UK had access to HIV medicines.
“This means people seek treatment rather than hiding their condition when entering the UK and are unable to pass HIV on to others while on treatment, preventing deaths and new infections.
“It is disappointing that Mr Farage has promised to eliminate vital health services in the UK which could lead to more people carrying HIV.
“Instead, it should join cross-party efforts to end new HIV cases and achieve this by 2030.”
Robbie Currie, chief executive of the National Aids Trust, said: “Everyone in the UK should have access to the HIV medicine they need, including throughout the entire process of claiming asylum, regardless of their immigration status.
“More broadly, the medical tourism implications in Mr Farage’s comments do not hold water – there is no evidence that people are coming to the UK to access HIV treatment.
“The UK has an incredible opportunity to end new HIV cases by 2030, and we must ensure no one is left behind in accessing vital HIV care.
“Everyone living with HIV has the right to receive treatment, and no one should be deprived of the medicine they need.”
