A.i.d.s.-test Charge Upsets Climes (Press, 19 May 1989)
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Summary: A.i.d.s.-test Charge Upsets Climes (Press, 19 May 1989)
Christchurch A.I.D.S. clinics are expressing concern over a decline in the number of A.I.D.S. tests being conducted, attributing this decrease to the introduction of an $11 fee for each test by local laboratories. The Health Department has stated that A.I.D.S. is a top priority, yet it has not agreed to cover the cost of these tests, causing frustration among healthcare professionals. Marie Glenys, a counsellor at the Ettie Rout Clinic, explained that laboratories previously conducted A.I.D.S. tests as a public service, but had to start charging due to the high number of tests and the lack of financial support from the government. She noted that patients must now pay both their general practitioner's fee and the laboratory fee, making it financially burdensome for many, particularly for those at risk such as drug users and the unemployed. The clinic's test numbers have plummeted; for instance, they typically conducted about 12 tests per week but only performed four in the past week. Dr. Heather Lyttle, head of the Sexually Transmitted Diseases Clinic, voiced similar concerns, stating that the recent national A.I.D.S. conference had highlighted the need for the Health Department to subsidise A.I.D.S. testing. She questioned the justification behind the lack of financial support, especially when other medical tests are covered. Despite these challenges, the S.T.D. clinic has managed to provide A.I.D.S. testing for free by processing tests through Christchurch Hospital. However, the overall request for tests has significantly declined due to the new charges, raising further alarm about public health priorities surrounding A.I.D.S. Dr. Ross Moon from the College of General Practitioners also commented that it is unsatisfactory for the Health Department not to subsidise A.I.D.S. tests, given the acknowledged importance of addressing the epidemic in New Zealand.
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