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Photograph: Dominic Lipinski/PA© Provided by The Guardian

NHS records of migrants are to have a Home Office reference number attached to them, prompting concerns about potential tracking, privacy rights and the expansion of the “hostile environment”.

A previous scheme using NHS data to track down patients believed to be breaching immigration rules was abandoned after a legal challenge from health and civil liberties organisations warning of a breach of patient confidentiality, discrimination against non-British patients and a risk of deterring people from seeking medical help. 

But concerns are being voiced about a new development after NHS England was directed by a senior civil servant writing on behalf of the health secretary, Steve Barclay, to accept and store “Home Office reference numbers” in the records of “relevant patients”.

The British Medical Association said it would be examining the move to ensure it did not recreate “via the back door” a system similar to the tracking scheme that was scrapped in 2018.

Under the new direction, the Home Office reference numbers, which have no value to the NHS, would be attached to the personal demographics service (PDS), the electronic database of patient demographic data, such as name, address, date of birth and NHS number.

The NHS gets notification of migrants who pay the immigration health surcharge – a fee paid by many but not all visa applicants seeking to stay in the UK for more than six months in order to access NHS services – but the reference number is now being added in a way that would allow the Home Office to track records.

Home Office documents state that the move relates to the collection of charges for overseas visitors using the NHS, which does not apply to groups such as people with settled status or on so-called skilled worker visas.

The Home Office also rejects the idea that the reference number will be used for immigration enforcement.

Nevertheless, concerns were voiced by organisations including the Migrants’ Rights Network (MRN), whose legal challenge forced the scrapping of a tracking scheme in 2018. 

Fizza Qureshi, the chief executive of the Migrants’ Rights Network, said: “Data-sharing agreements between different public agencies that allow the Home Office to access people’s personal information for immigration enforcement purposes is incredibly worrying for migrants’ privacy and data rights.

“The introduction of a Home Office reference number to NHS records for migrants signals the growing trend to ignore and abuse patient privacy and data rights for migrants.

“This new process feels and sounds discriminatory, and will likely be used as an immigration enforcement tool to further harm migrants, and deter them from accessing vital healthcare. The NHS should not be doing the Home Office’s bidding by storing this information, and should be firstly thinking of patient confidentiality and their privacy.”

The development has also sparked unease among healthcare unions.

Dr Jan Wise, the BMA’s medical ethics committee chair, said: “The BMA was instrumental in having the dangerous memorandum of understanding between the Home Office, DHSC and NHS England scrapped in 2018 and has spoken out more generally about the inappropriate use of health records by the government. We will be examining this new development closely to ensure that it is not an attempt to recreate a similar system via the back door.”

Helga Pile, Unison’s deputy head of health, said: “Gathering this data is alarming. Confidentiality is vital for patients when they seek treatment.

“Having the shadow of the Home Office looming over every health consultation will erode trust in the NHS. And these are people who’ve paid thousands of pounds to access services, on top of tax.

“The pandemic underlined the importance of retaining confidence in medical services and public health advice. But use of this data is ripe for abuse and mistakes, and risks undermining the work of the NHS.”

The development applies to records held by NHS England, which leads the health service in England and is separate to other devolved jurisdictions of the UK.

A Home Office spokesperson said: “The Home Office shares data with the NHS to ensure individuals can access healthcare free of charge where they are entitled to treatment. The use of a reference number is an established part of these data-sharing arrangements and there is no new reference number being introduced. To suggest otherwise is wrong.”

Home Office sources said its unique reference number, known as the UID2, is used in the digital checking service, which enables the NHS to accurately identify the correct Home Office record when determining if an individual should be charged for healthcare.

The legal order to the NHS England chief executive, Amanda Pritchard, was issued on 9 June and then noted at a board meeting in July.

Sam Smith at medConfidential, a data privacy campaign group, expressed concerns about the process by which the NHS was instructed to start storing the reference numbers.

“The NHS was told to implement a political decision requested by the Home Office, but chose to do so before the NHS England board met to approve the direction,” he said. “The choice to move at a speed makes a mockery of NHS data governance that is supposed to be independent and offer scrutiny.”

NHS trusts have discretion on how to identify patients and where they are from, according to the NHS. Ben Quinn Political correspondent, Guardian

 

August 27, 2023 (JUBA) – General Abdel Fatah al-Burhan engaged in a conversation with South Sudan’s President Salva Kiir on Saturday subsequent to his departure from Khartoum through a military operation executed by his troops on August 24, 2023.

Tut Gatluak, South Sudan’s Presidential Adviser on Security Affairs, told Sudan Tribune that Kiir and al-Burhan had a telephone call where Kiir reiterated his commitment to supporting initiatives aimed at terminating the ongoing conflict.

Gatluak stated, “Communication underscores General Salva Kiir Mayardit’s commitment to finding a lasting solution for Sudan’s situation. The path forward lies in peace dialogues rather than destructive warfare.”

However, he refrained from disclosing specific details of the telephone conversation.

Insider sources from South Sudan’s presidential palace and individuals with direct insight informed Sudan Tribune that the conversation was arranged in advance by both the Sudanese embassy and South Sudanese security. The objective was to secure clearance for the leaders to engage in dialogue. Additionally, sources from the office of Sudan’s Sovereign Council Deputy Chairman, Malik Agar, conveyed separately to Sudan Tribune that Agar had initiated contact with South Sudan’s presidential office to facilitate the dialogue.

Since the commencement of the conflict in April 2023, South Sudan has emerged as a regional advocate for peaceful conflict resolution. President Kiir has expressed his willingness to mediate, provided that the opposing leaders are amenable to his proposal.

Initially, President Kiir, alongside the Presidents of Kenya and Djibouti, had planned to visit Khartoum the day after the conflict erupted in the capital. However, due to deteriorating security conditions and the closure of the Khartoum airport, the trip was deferred until new arrangements could be made.

The two nations remain closely intertwined politically and economically, with populations freely circulating between them. The demarcation of the border between the two countries is still pending.

The Rapid Support Forces (RSF) were assigned the task of safeguarding refineries and pipelines. They took control of these strategic installations after the outbreak of war on April 15. However, the paramilitary force has not thus far interrupted oil pumping or its transportation to Port Sudan for international exportation. - Sudan Tribune

(ST)

Nyege Nyege Music Festival, which has been the centre of attention every September when it is hosted in Uganda, has been postponed to November, further adding to its past struggles with image.

And this year, organisers are scrambling for sponsors with previous partners not showing interest due to persistent criticism of Nyege Nyege for purportedly promoting sexual immorality.

“We still have three months to go. Announcement coming up any day now, hope ya’ll still ready for it because we’ve never been so excited to share the good news with you,” organisers of the event said on social media last week. 

"MTN Uganda, which has been the flagship sponsor of the festival for the past few years, will not be the title sponsor for this year’s event," organisers said.

MTN Uganda’s communications team did not respond to our request for a comment on why the firm pulled out of the event by the time of filing this story. 

Arlen Dilsizian, one of the organisers of the festival, told The EastAfrican that this year’s edition will take place in Jinja on November 9-12 and that the event is organised “in partnership with the City of Jinja and the mayor”.

"This time round, Uganda Breweries will be the main sponsor," he said.

First staged in 2015, Nyege Nyege International Music Festival – which caters to electronic dance music enthusiasts – has been attracting thousands of fans from across the globe.

However, the event has been facing a backlash from Uganda’s Parliament, which has on several occasions accused the organisers of promoting sexual immorality and undermining the country’s cultural values.

Last year, Parliament had banned the four-day festival just a week before it was to take place. However, Robinah Nabanja, the country’s Prime Minister, eventually gave the organisers a go-ahead after meeting with the MPs. By GILBERT MWIJUKE, The East African

Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) spokesperson Promise Mkhwananzi - who has been arrested many times for his political activism - has dismissed police claims that he has a 2020 warrant of arrest for defaulting on court proceedings.

THE Zimbabwe Republic Police is seeking to detain Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) spokesperson Promise Mkwananzi for an outstanding arrest warrant against him issued back in 2020.

Mkwananzi, a prominent government critic and leader of the Tajamuka/Sesijikile pressure group was recently appointed CCC spokesperson, replacing Fadzayi Mahere.

 
Said Mkhwananzi: "Please be informed that I don't have a warrant of arrest. I was cleared of all the flimsy charges that had been preferred against me. All these are lies, laughable desperation to intimidate and restrict people's freedoms."

In a statement, police Assistant Commissioner, Paul Nyathi said Mkwananzi is facing incitement to commit public violence charges and defaulted court proceedings.

The statement was issued moments after suspected state security agents disrupted a press briefing by Mkwananzi and attempted to drag him away from the venue. Bulawayo24 News

President Ruto to commission affordable housing units in Kakamega.[Standard]

President William Ruto is expected to launch 220 units under the Affordable Housing Programme today at Milimani area, Lurambi Constituency in Kakamega County.

Ruto who is currently in Busia County launching various development projects will commission the project during his five-day working tour in the Western region.

The State is planning to engage 3,500 youths in the programme who will benefit directly or indirectly. 

Already, the developer, Top Choice Surveillance Limited has engaged Kakamega Engineering and Fabricators Association and KEFINCO Carpenters Association with over 100 skilled artisans for a partnership in the project.

The developer is expected to ring-fence an estimated Sh26m for the over 1,200 doors and 1,200 windows required for the project. 

The government is already mobilizing and recruiting residents of Lurambi constituency to join registered Jua Kali Associations to supply other ring-fenced items. 

The State Department for Housing has also engaged TVETs among them Shamberere Technical Training Institute and Sigalagala National Polytechnic to provide technical support once the project commences. 

The project that sits on the four acres parcel of land is owned by the National Government, and currently hosting government housing and is expected to be completed by April 2025.  

The developer is expected to put up nine blocks of apartments comprising 60 studio units, 20-bedroom units, 100 two-bedroom units, and 40 three-bedroom units at an estimated cost of Sh473 million. 

The existing road and water infrastructure will be expanded as will the sewer line. Lurambi residents have hailed the project as a major milestone and lauded the Government for spreading the affordable housing program to the constituency level. 

This will be the third Affordable Housing Program at the constituency level launched by the Government after Gichugu Constituency and Bahati constituency.

So far, the Government has awarded 17 contracts in lot 1 for development and advertised a further thirty-five in lot 2 for the constituency affordable housing program. By Benard Lusigi, The Standard

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