THE Falkland Islands Government has approved a new immigration health policy setting out for the first time the medical conditions, treatments and medications that may lead to a work or residency permit being refused.
The policy is intended to provide greater clarity about how health assessments are considered when immigration applications are assessed and whether an applicant is likely to become a “substantial charge on public funds”.
Under the policy, permit refusals may be considered for applicants with a range of serious medical conditions, including certain cancers, severe heart and respiratory diseases, progressive neurological disorders, severe psychiatric illnesses, organ transplant recipients requiring ongoing treatment and some developmental disorders requiring significant support.
The policy also states that an application may be refused if an applicant requires medication costing more than £2,500 a year or medication that cannot be sourced through the Falkland Islands supply chain.
The document has been developed by Customs and Immigration and the King Edward VII Memorial Hospital and is based in part on a similar approach used by New Zealand immigration authorities.
According to the paper presented to Executive Council, the policy does not represent a change in practice but formalises existing arrangements and provides greater transparency about the types of medical and healthcare needs that may be considered a substantial charge on public funds.
The paper notes that decisions will continue to be made on a case-by-case basis and that the list of conditions is not exhaustive.
Executive Council was told that the policy has been designed to reflect the capacity and resources available within the Falkland Islands healthcare system, including the limitations of local treatment options and the potential need for costly overseas referrals and medical evacuations.
The paper also acknowledges that permit refusals under the policy could affect recruitment and retention in both the public and private sectors by reducing the pool of people eligible to work in the Falkland Islands.
