Overseas HIV tests tipped for migrants

By FRANCESCA MOLD and NZPA

New migrants could be forced to undergo tests for HIV/Aids, tuberculosis and other infectious diseases before they leave their home country if a new screening policy is recommended by a Government review.

Immigration Minister Lianne Dalziel confirmed yesterday that a review of New Zealand's immigration health screening policy was under way.

The review would look at whether New Zealand should introduce a policy requiring mandatory health screening of refugees, asylum seekers and immigrants.

It would identify whether the screening should take place overseas, who would carry out the tests and how much it would cost. The review would also address whether New Zealand should reject potential migrants who have diseases that would require high-cost health care.

Ms Dalziel has previously said that an HIV-positive person was not automatically ineligible for residency. The test was whether they were likely to become a burden on the public health system.

Australia has been testing potential migrants for HIV/Aids since 1989.

But New Zealand relies on the honesty of those applying for residency, asking them to tick a box if they are HIV positive or have other illnesses, such as tuberculosis, hepatitis and leprosy.

New Zealand First leader Winston Peters yesterday criticised the Government for failing to implement adequate health screening policies which tested people before they arrived in New Zealand.

Ms Dalziel admitted New Zealand's screening policy was out of date. She said the new review was the first comprehensive look at the policy in a number of years.

Ms Dalziel said refugees were given a "thorough" medical examination on arriving. But yesterday she said the Government had decided to shift the screening process to the country the refugees originated from.

Amnesty International executive director Ced Simpson said it was important that a distinction be made between immigrants and refugees when a decision was made whether to accept people with serious illnesses into the country.

He said people fleeing torture and persecution should not be refused asylum simply because they had an infectious illness.

But in terms of other immigrants, New Zealand was entitled to control its borders.

Feature: Immigration