§ Mr. WallerTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he has any plans to amend the regulations which govern National Health Service treatment for overseas visitors; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. NewtonUnder the National Health Service (Charges to Overseas Visitors) Regulations 1982, there are a range of visitors who are exempt from charges. For those subject to charge, treatment at or following any reference from a special clinic for the treatment of sexually transmitted diseases is nevertheless exempt from charge.
183WWe have concluded this exemption is too widely defined. Regulations being laid today redefine the exemption as being for treatment at such a special clinic or treatment for a sexually transmitted disease following a reference from such a clinic. They also restrict the exemption, in the case of infection with any human immunodeficiency virus, to diagnosis and counselling only and introduce a specific charge for any drug or medicine designed to treat such a virus and supplied to non-exempt overseas visitors as out-patients. Equivalent regulations are being laid for Scotland.