An Ethiopian woman who was denied potentially life-saving cancer treatment for six weeks amid confusion about whether she should be charged by the UK’s National Health Service (NHS) has died aged 39, reports The Guardian. Kelemua Mulat, who had advanced breast cancer, was refused chemotherapy last year after Home Office and NHS officials decided that she was not eligible for free care.
The report says Mulat, a mother of one, was eventually treated by the internationally renowned Christie Hospital in Manchester after its doctors expressed concern and said her need was “immediately necessary”, which is permitted treatment under the rules.
Mulat is one of hundreds of patients who have been denied treatment for serious health problems under the policy, which is strongly opposed by Britain’s doctors.
[link url="https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2019/sep/19/asylum-seeker-denied-cancer-treatment-nhs-home-office-hostile-environment"]The Guardian report[/link]