Health care for refused asylum seekers in the UK.

466 www.thelancet.com Vol 370 August 11, 2007 There are several lessons from the recent Ghana experience (panel). The political and sociological aspects of such events are also important. On the internet forum associated with the fi rst press report about the incident, there was massive outpouring of anger, resentment, paranoia, and vitriol. The situation suddenly became the focus for a wide range of volatile and dangerous political and social prejudices and hatred. It is worrying that a responsible activity such as the deworming programme can potentially cause huge loss of confi dence in the public-health system and give rise to civil disorder. However, the Ministry of Health’s rapid involvement of the country’s independent pharmacovigilance centre allowed the facts to be established and order to be restored. The Government was seen to react urgently and eff ectively.