{"id":90017,"date":"2018-09-26T14:15:07","date_gmt":"2018-09-26T12:15:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/?p=90017"},"modified":"2025-12-19T11:23:06","modified_gmt":"2025-12-19T10:23:06","slug":"investigation-into-hiv-positive-international-students","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/2018\/09\/26\/investigation-into-hiv-positive-international-students\/","title":{"rendered":"Investigation into HIV-positive international students"},"content":{"rendered":"

Bruno Bruins, the Dutch Minister for Medical Care, has authorised an investigation into international students who have been infected with HIV. The Minister stated as much in his written reply to questions asked in the Dutch Lower House by PvdA (the Dutch Labour Party).<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/figure>

HIV-positive foreign students often forgo treatment in the Netherlands because it is not covered by their health insurance, Dutch broadcasting corporation NOS reported<\/a> last month. NOS believes several \u2018dozens\u2019 of HIV-infected students come to the Netherlands every year, mostly from Asia and sub-Saharan Africa.<\/p>\n

Risk of spread of the disease<\/h2>

Since the medications used to keep HIV at bay cost between \u20ac700 and \u20ac1000 per month and since going home often isn\u2019t an option, students allegedly choose not to receive treatment. This is detrimental to their own health and increases the risk of the virus spreading.<\/p>\n

According to the Minister,<\/a> the exact number of HIV-positive students in the country is unknown, as they are not registered anywhere. He wishes to have an investigation carried out \u201cinto the severity and nature of the problem, so as to get a better understanding of the risk posed to public health\u201d.<\/p>\n

Responsibility<\/h2>

Bruins is not surprised that some insurers will not reimburse the costs of HIV therapy for patients who were infected outside the Netherlands. \u201cIt is not unusual for insurance companies not to cover certain types of treatment,\u201d he wrote. Bruins said it was \u201cthe insurers\u2019 and the universities\u2019 responsibility\u201d to provide international students with good information on the subject.<\/p>\n

The International Institute of Social Studies in The Hague (ISS), which is part of EUR, accommodates many students from Asia and Africa. However, HIV is not much of an issue at the institute, according to its confidential adviser Martin Blok. \u201cIn all the years I\u2019ve worked here, I have come across a couple of international students who were HIV-positive. As far as I know, these international students made sure they received treatment.\u201d<\/p>\n

Blok is all for providing good information. He thinks it is vital that the students themselves are honest. \u201cIf you have health issues, come and see us. The university will try and help you find a solution.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\t

\n\t\t\t\t\t

De redactie<\/h2>\n\t\t\n\t\t
\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t