NHS BOARDS in Scotland are owed almost £2 million by foreign visitors to Scotland.
Health boards can charge overseas visitors who are not permanent residents in Scotland for using certain NHS services, such as dentists or receiving non-emergency treatment for a pre-exisiting condition.
They can’t be charged for treatment in accident and emergency departments or for infectious diseases.
Guidance issued to health boards by the Scottish Government in 2010 details what health treatments they can bill patients for, although it makes it clear there is no formal obligation to make anyone pay for treatment.
However, figures obtained through a Freedom of Information request found that Scotland’s eight health boards are owed a total of £1.988m.
NHS Tayside is owed £33,558.76 while NHS Fife is due £73,692. NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde is owed the most of all £1,190,507.
Eben Wilson, director of TaxpayerScotland, said health boards should do more to recover this money.
“The NHS ethic of free care at the point of delivery is considered to be a national treasure,” he said. “But at the same time, the taxes we pay for this privilege are high.
“It is not right that NHS managers do not make the utmost effort to recover costs incurred in treating overseas visitors.”
An NHS Tayside spokesman said: “If the person has not paid their bill, they are contacted by letter, reminding them of the outstanding amount due.
“If payment is still not made, NHS Tayside will contact the Central Legal Office, who may instruct an international debt collection agency to retrieve payment.”