Devex: Outrage after visas denied for U.K. global health conference
“Health and development researchers have warned that difficulties in getting travel visas for professionals from low-income countries has become a major barrier to access and inclusion, after at least 17 researchers were unable to attend the Women Leaders in Global Health conference in the United Kingdom this week. Fourteen researchers from sub-Saharan Africa and three from Asia were blocked from attending the two-day event, hosted by the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine in London…” (Edwards/Watters, 11/9).

Reuters: Scientists angry at U.K. visa denials for African, Asian researchers
“…Peter Piot, a Belgian-born microbiologist who was part of a team that discovered the Ebola virus in the 1970s and is now director of the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, was among those protesting against restrictive criteria for granting short-term business visas. In a letter to the interior minister, Sajid Javid, Piot said the restrictions ‘represent a significant threat’ to the United Kingdom establishing itself as a global health and science hub when it should be showing it is ‘open for business.’ … Other leading scientists echoed Piot’s concerns…” (Kelland/Holden, 11/8).