Immigrants 'sneaking' into NZ for hospital treatment

A health board boss says illegal immigrants are "sneaking" into New Zealand running up massive medical hospital bills they cannot pay.

"The money we spend on these people is money we cannot spend on New Zealand residents or citizens, " said Dwayne Crombie, chief executive of the Waitemata District Health Board,

A Pacific Island overstayer from Kiribati will not have to pay for a $500,000 liver transplant after being granted permanent residency by the government, the Sunday Star-Times reports today.

The paper said health boards were frustrated that immigration officials were granting residency to foreigners who cost the health system millions each year.

Foreigners have run up $10 million in unpaid health bills since 2003.

Overstayers and those with residency have been treated in the public health system for dialysis, lung cancer, leukaemia and cystic fibrosis.

Some board officials want compulsory medical insurance for visitors.

Auckland District Health Board member Barry de Geest told the paper it was frustrating when immigration officials ignored medical advice and gave residency to high-cost patients.

Labour Department deputy workforce secretary Mary Anne Thompson said the Immigration Service aimed to minimise unreasonable health costs.

Immigration Minister David Cunliffe said he knew health boards had raised concerns about the cost of treating migrants. The Health Ministry and Immigration Service were working on the issue.

- NZPA