A.I.D.S. tests urged for immigrants

Press, 28 November 1987, Page 6

A.I.D.S. tests urged for immigrants

PA Wellington Foreigners wanting to live in New Zealand should be tested for A.I.D.S. the A.I.DJ. Advisory Council has recommended, to prevent A.I.D.S. patients coming here to take advantage of free A.I.D.S. treatment The council chairman, Dr Richard Meech, said that the council had recommended screening for people wanting to immigrate to New Zealand or have long-term residency. But the council specific-

ally did not want tourists the world which supplied tested the expensive drug A.Z.T., It said that any restric- tfe only one developed to tions placed on people Sfeease free found to have A;I.D.S. °" eas ?ijE ee charge, virus antibodies, should J° N not include restrictions on d [P.® . *;° st ® fhxir travel patient for a yearns sup-Z-L nwHo thP Ply- There were also the afttr Wdden COStS ° f re g ular Mini check-ups and laboratory £ '°™ er ßS. SS ’“■ ’ a “ enß ~ X?"entert5 r , ™’“!15 r land should be consid- A-l-p- s ; J or 10n ®‘ ered, Dr Meecn tod. KJXnWK New Zealand was one supported by the Opposiof very few countries in tion.

the only one developed to help retard the fatal disease, free of charge. In New Zealand, the drug cost $16,000 a patient for a year’s supply. There were also the hidden costs of regular check-ups and laboratory tests for patients on A.Z.T., he said. The call for compulsory A.I.D.S. testing for longterm visitors and prospective immigrants has been supported by the Opposition.