The United Kingdom home office has announced that Indians would need to go through a tuberculosis test and get a clearance in order to get visa to UK. The office has said that this applies to 65 other countries took that have high tuberculosis rate. The expenditure incurred for tests and subsequent treatments should be taken care by the visa applicants.

Notably, UK would introduce tuberculosis programme would be introduced in the respective 66 countries for over a period of 18 months starting from July,2012. This initiative will help the country in removing the tuberculosis screening centres at British airports. Therefore, it would save 40 million pounds for the country.

According to the recent reports, the tuberculosis cases in UK in 2011 were 9000. The house has also mentioned that pre-screening and treatment would not only put a check to the spread of tuberculosis but will also save lives.   (Phani)