Asylum seeker with hepatitis C denied treatment

AN asylum seeker has been refused hospital treatment for a serious medical condition because a decision on his application is still outstanding.

Sergai Costin, aged 31, is living at the Airport Hotel in Cork. Originally from Moldova, he has been in Ireland for several months.

He has been told that if he gets

residency he will be seen again by doctors with a view to therapy for hepatitis C and this would involve a liver biopsy.

But Cork University Hospital has ruled out such treatment while his

application for asylum is pending.

A letter from the Department of Gastoenterology at CUH was put into evidence at Cork District Court yesterday in a case relating to Costin.

The letter stated: “Our current policy with hepatitis C in asylum seekers is not to offer therapy until residency has been established. It has been explained to him (Costin) that if he does get residency status that he will be seen again with a view to therapy for hepatitis C and that this would

involve a liver biopsy.”

Solicitor Michael Moloney raised the matter at Cork District Court yesterday where he represented Costin in a shoplifting case. “He is unable to get treatment for a serious medical condition. As a result of this he is depressed,” Mr Maloney said.

He said he would be following up the matter and making a representation on Costin’s behalf.

“I will be writing to the Southern Health Board to see if this is the policy of the hospital or the Southern Health Board or the Department of Health.

“One would think in this day and age that people who are seriously ill would get treatment irrespective of their status or nationality or otherwise,” Mr Moloney said.

In light of Costin’s medical difficulties and the fact he had no previous convictions, Judge Uinsin MacGruairc dismissed the shoplifting charge under the Probation of Offenders Act.

A co-accused, Sasha Rotanu, who is also from Moldova and living at the Airport Hotel in Cork, was told his case would also be dismissed if he paid 40 towards the shop’s expenses.

The two men stole a Remington shaving set valued at 100 on December 7.

They were seen committing the offence and the property was recovered.