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WARNING!
ABC LESSONS FOR NIGERIAN TRAVELLERS TO THE U.K
By
Oyeyemi Olodo Esq., Oct 10, 2006
Since the early 60’s, Nigerians have always enjoyed the UK public services
including housing, education and more importantly health care. However,
the days of free services are over and there is clear writing on the wall
that the British government is refusing to be the “Mr Nice Guy” nation or
welfare state of the past.
Though the death of a Nigerian lady, Elizabeth Alabi, who was refused
medical treatment by a London hospital clearly sent shock waves across the
Nigerian community in the UK. However, the lessons from her death are yet
to have tremendous impact on the numerous Nigerian visitors entering the
UK yearly.
An
online survey conducted by TIM revealed that 98% of the participants never
thought of purchasing a travel or health insurance when travelling to the
UK. This is a worrying discovery, particularly because many of the
participants seem to be oblivious to the benefits associated with having
insurance coverage when on holiday abroad.
Prior to the Prime Minister John Major’s administration, Nigerians born in
the UK automatically* acquire the Citizenship status (before 1984 if not a
restricted visa), the British government reversed that policy but yet some
few Nigerians were not abated by that, they continued to travel into the
UK from Nigeria to deliver their babies leaving the taxpayer with the huge
bill.
Thus, it is not surprising that the UK government remain unapologetic on
its stands on matters of public services such as education and health
service. Presently in the United Kingdom, you can not receive grant if you
can not prove that you have resided in the UK for 3 years continuously
without a break and this is tagged ‘Residential Status’ the same policy
applies to the health service.
The Integrity Magazine decided to examine the reasoning behind the
decision of the U.K government and simultaneously questioned the wisdom of
this approach. The information received in the process clearly vindicates
the approach on the U.K on this matter.
We
asked the UK Department of Health to clarify the status of visitors to the
United Kingdom with regards to health care and the spokesperson of the
Department, David Burke explained that:
“Entitlement to access free National Health Service (NHS) hospital
treatment is based on whether someone is ordinarily resident in this
country, not on British nationality or the past or present payment of
National Insurance contributions or UK taxes. Anyone who is not ordinarily
resident is subject to the National Health Service (Charges to Overseas
Visitors) Regulations 1989, as amended and is deemed an overseas visitor.
These regulations place a responsibility on NHS hospitals to establish
whether a person is ordinarily resident, or exempt from charges under one
of a number of exemption categories listed in the regulations, or liable
for charges. Some services are free of charge to everyone, regardless of
where they ordinarily reside. These include treatment given in an
accident and emergency department (A&E) or in a walk-in centre providing
services similar to those in an A&E department, treatment for certain
infectious diseases and compulsory psychiatric treatment….”
Although, the above is the new reality of the British society of today.
Nevertheless, let it be known that Nigerians and visitors to the United
Kingdom also play a critical role in keeping the UK health service
workable. As at 30 September 2004, the UK National Health Service employed
2,694 doctors and medical staff with Nigeria as their country of
qualification according to the NHS data and that would have doubled by
2006.
According to the same data, the total number of ethnic minority working in
the UK NHS as at September 2004 amounts to 32,523 which represent 38.1% of
the total workforce.
Even,
in the hospital where Ms Elizabeth Alabi was initially denied treatment.
Their record revealed that 394 overseas visitors were treated within
2005/6 and the hospital received over £300,000 on treatment cost.
According to Colin Nash, Secretary to the Trust Board at Queen Elizabeth
Hospital, 726 ethnic minority staff works for the trust as at 31 March
2006.
When No. 10
Downing Street was approached on this matter, the Prime Minister expressed
his sympathy to the family of the Alabi and Rosie Winterton, the Minister
of State for Health, also conveyed the same message but in an exclusive
message to the integrity magazine said:
“Whilst the UK
has reciprocal healthcare agreements with some other countries and
territories, most countries have no healthcare agreements with the UK and
treatment for visitors to or from those countries has to be paid for…”.
Now, it is clear Nigeria does not have any healthcare agreements with the
UK and Nigeria High Commission in the UK told the Integrity Magazine that
their lawyer is reviewing the situation. Over 3 months into their initial
response, there has been no information from those quarters”.
Thus, the
simple message to Nigerians coming to the United Kingdom is this: get your
healthcare insurance before boarding the plane and spare yourself the
headache if your health takes a turn. Very soon, it might become a
requirement for visitors into the United Kingdom to have evidence of
health care insurance before getting a visa.
Oyeyemi Olodo Esq.,
Director/Publisher
The Integrity Magazine
www.theintegritymagazine.org.uk
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