July 9, 2024

Visa Injustice: Silencing Critical Voices in Global Health

Global health practitioners and researchers from low- and middle- income countries face significant barriers due to restrictive visa policies. Many professionals are unable to attend international conferences, limiting their participation in critical discussions and collaborations. Consequently, global health events often become exclusive gatherings dominated by individuals from high-income countries, sidelining crucial voices from the global south. New research highlights this injustice, revealing that Pakistanis spent a staggering £ 5.3 million on rejected United Kingdom visas and € 3.3 million on denied Schengen visas in 2023, with rejection rates of 40% and 50%, respectively.

Read these articles on the severe impact of visa inequalities on global health and the urgent need for reform:

UK, Schengen states make millions off rejected visas

Passport And Visa Privileges In Global Health