TORY leader Michael Howard was today accused of "appalling discrimination" against immigrants over proposals for new health checks for Aids and TB.

Leading medical magazine The Lancet published an editorial branding the Tories' policies as exaggeration designed to seize on public fears.

The article - titled "Disease testing for immigrants: Discrimination disguised as public health policy" - also accused politicians of "shamelessly exploiting" civilised values.

At present Britain carries out tuberculosis tests on immigrants from high-risk countries as it is an airborne infection which can be spread by coughing or sneezing.

There are no tests carried out on immigrants for HIV because the Home Office say this is much less infectious.

The Home Office states that its policy for screening for "other diseases" is under review.

Mr Howard last week announced the Tories would deny visas to prospective immigrants who tested positive for TB.

HIV tests would also be mandatory under the Conservative policy, but visas would not necessarily be withheld.

Fears

Mr Howard claimed this strategy would minimise the public-health threats posed by immigrants.

The Lancet editorial states: "Policies that deny visas to prospective immigrants on the basis of disease are discriminatory, designed to seize on public fears, and do not protect public health."

Mr Howard is also accused of exaggerating the impact of immigration spreading diseases as absolute numbers remain small.

"Percentage calculations, such as those cited in Howard's publicity material, exaggerate the relative burden of immigration-related illness," The Lancet states.

According to the Health Protection Agency's most recent report, the number of newly-diagnosed HIV infections thought to have been contracted outside the UK in 2003 number around 3,000.

The Lancet comments: "Policies that discriminate against visa applicants on the basis of disease risk stigmatising entire sections of society.

"By selecting just two diseases for scrutiny, and specifying that only arrivals from non-EU countries will be tested, the UK policies ignore some of the most immediate risks.

"The former communist states of eastern Europe have some of the highest rates of TB in the world.

"But visitors from these countries will be under no obligation to undergo testing".

What do you think of the Tories' plans? Have your say.

Tweet