Charges are to be imposed on people from outside the EU who use Britain’s NHS.
Now any coming from non-EU countries will be charged 150% of the cost of NHS treatment. A procedure costing £1000 could be billed at £1500.
Presently, most foreign visitors can get NHS treatment but are expected to pay for it afterwards.
Every year £460m is chalked up in charges, but only a fraction of it is ever recovered. Some analysts put this figure at £75m.
The renewed push against “health tourism” is to encourage NHS Trusts in England to be more active in recouping such expenses. Those hospitals failing to bill foreign patients could be fined.
Temporary migrants from outside Europe who are in the UK for longer than six months will have to pay a £200 "NHS" levy when they apply for leave to enter or remain in the UK.
The health minister said the principle that the NHS was free at the point of delivery for residents would not be "undermined".
The measures are expected to take effect next spring.
