APPLICANTS for US residency visas and green cards who have co-morbidities may find it tougher to get approval, following a US State Department directive to embassies around the world to screen people with health complications. Local health practitioners say sensitivity, balance and fairness are needed in enforcing this measure.

The policy is intended to protect the American public purse from the burden of providing health support to immigrants.

“Certain medical conditions, including, but not limited to, cardiovascular diseases, respiratory diseases, cancers, diabetes, metabolic diseases, neurological diseases, and mental health conditions, can require hundreds of thousands of dollars’ worth of care. All of these can require expensive, long-term care,” the directive said.