(note: this campaign is uk only.)

Prior to April 2004, HIV treatment was available free on the NHS to anyone who could show that they had been in the UK for more than 12 months. This ensured that any long stay resident of the UK, no matter how they became one, would receive the health treatment they needed on public health grounds.

However, in response to media and political agitation about "treatment tourism", new restrictions were imposed from April 2004. These now mean that long stay visitors, anyone living in the UK without documentation, and anyone refused asylum or leave to remain, but not removed from the UK, are liable to be charged for their HIV treatment except in an emergency (i.e. short term admissions in order to avert death, but not to avert illness or suffering). This effectively means that these groups are being denied treatment that would dramatically improve their health, increase their ability to work and decrease their ability to pass on the virus, as they are unlikely to be able to afford to pay.

the term "treatment tourism"? makes me want to smash things.

further information here, with a thingy for e-mailing your mp (and rather sophisticated this one is, too). i really recommend that you do it.

cross-posted: globalfeminisms, refugeenews, the_separatist