21 April 2006 Statement on issue of international students and public funding of pregnancy terminations

Lincoln University's International Student Adviser Blair McMillan says that international students in New Zealand are not generally eligible for publicly funded health care, including pregnancy terminations. He is aware that the problem of funding pregnancy terminations does exist among the international student population in New Zealand but he is not aware of any specific instances relating to the Lincoln campus.

"Under the compulsory health insurance that all international students must hold as part of their entry requirements there is ex gratia coverage of one free sexual health consultation with a doctor or nurse per year.

"Costs associated with pregnancy and terminations are not covered under students' health insurance.

"Lincoln University, as part of its registration/orientation process, offers a free general health check and consultation for all international students, and domestic students too, and this covers sexual health for those who are sexually active.

"These checks and consultations are carried out through the University's Student Health and Support Centre and the offer is definitely made use of by international students. International students are certainly coming to Student Health for advice on sexual health and contraception.

"During that consultation international students are encouraged to have recorded whatever traditional medications they might be taking for existing medical conditions or routine illnesses in order to avoid any subsequent conflict with Western treatments if these need to be prescribed."

Ian Collins, Journalist, Lincoln University, Canterbury, New Zealand