According to reports from the UK-China Network, the UK Home Office has recently begun implementing a new regulation requiring visitors from countries and regions with high incidences of tuberculosis to undergo medical examinations to test for the infectious disease before obtaining a UK visa. Reports indicate that on May 21, Immigration Minister Damian Green announced the "Pre-entry Tuberculosis Screening Programme." This program is expected to reduce fatalities and save taxpayers 40 million pounds over the next 10 years. This new measure means that citizens from 67 countries and regions with high tuberculosis incidence rates who wish to obtain a UK visa for more than 6 months must undergo tuberculosis screening before applying for a visa for their first entry.
Immigration Minister Damian Green stated: "One-third of the world's population carries the tuberculosis virus, and the number of tuberculosis cases in the UK is currently at its highest point in 30 years, so it is necessary to take measures to curb this growth. Implementing pre-entry checks where needed will help prevent the spread of tuberculosis in the UK and reduce fatalities." "Eliminating airport screening facilities will save taxpayers 25 million pounds over ten years, and the funds saved by the NHS will be used to prevent the importation and spread of tuberculosis in the UK."
The implementation of pre-entry checks follows the 9,000 new cases of tuberculosis in the UK in 2011, an increase of 5% compared to 2010. Surveys show that cases of tuberculosis in non-UK-born individuals account for three-quarters of all new cases—20 times the rate of UK-born individuals. The costs associated with pre-entry checks will be borne by the applicants themselves. Reports state that mainland China, Hong Kong, and Macau are among the list of 67 countries and regions.
