Here is one response to a set of questions asked in the [him] email list about HIV testing of refugees. Mandatory testing prevails.

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I don't know the answer to all the questions, but I do know a little based on my own experience with Chin refugees in Malaysia.  As far as I could tell, the HIV testing was simply part of their mandatory health check that they get after their case is submitted to a country's embassy or consulate, but before they are accepted for resettlement.  There was a particular clinic I knew of that everyone went to, but it was just a normal Malaysian clinic that the UNHCR worked with on referrals.

I know that the US does take HIV positive refugees, and it may be the only country that reliably does.  Australia definitely does not, but I am not sure if the other resettling countries (Canada, Norway, Sweden, Denmark) may sometimes take them.

While I was in Malaysia I met young mother who'd been referred to Australia for resettlement.  After she was found HIV positive during the health check, her case was either rejected or put on hold. (Australia often withholds 'rejected' judgments, leaving the refugees in limbo and unable to apply elsewhere).  During that conversation with another Chin counselor, it came out that they'd have to find a way to submit her case to the US, as they are the only country that would take her in that situation.  Again, I can't confirm that the other countries would never take an HIV positive refugee, just that the US is the only one that will reliably not reject them for that.

Of course, once in the US, the refugees are at the mercy of the same privatized health care system as the rest of us.  Normally, they just get the same social security/welfare benefits as low-income citizens, so they'd be put onto the federal medicaid and whatever state health care is available.  I do not know what happens specifically to a resettled refugee with HIV after arriving in the US, but given the general state of health care in this country I can guess that it is not a pleasant experience - nobody in this country gets free, lifelong access to antiretroviral therapy, as far as I know.  But, Americans are now traveling to India and Malaysia for treatment of life-threatening diseases, so that should say something about the situation refugees are coming into.

As for #5, at least in Malaysia, that seems like a long shot.  Refugees can hardly get care for emergencies involving traumatic wounds or other chronic illness.  The standard process there for getting medical care is, 1) The patient goes to their community leaders.  2) Community leaders refer them to the UNHCR for a referral letter to go to the hospital for treatment.  3) Patient waits interminably long for said referral letter, with community leaders having to call once or twice to reconfirm they need one. 4) Patient takes letter to hospital, which allows them to be treated but gives no guarantee against arrest at said hospital, nor does it have anything to do with the bill.

The alternatives to the above steps are, in severe emergencies, the refugee just goes to the hospital and hopes for the best.  In the case of non-life threatening wounds, they'll probably go to one of the refugee doctors who offer first-aid services.  If it's a specific sort of illness that an NGO somewhere might cater to, they community leaders will try to coordinate a referral to there for treatment.  I'm not aware of any NGO dealing with HIV treatment among refugees or migrant workers in Malaysia, or who might accept such patients, but that doesn't mean they aren't there.   There is just one small (12 - 15 beds) respite clinic for refugees that opened a few years ago which I think probably takes them, but I can't comment on their level of access to the necessary drugs.

This situation would obviously vary in every country, as there are no 'procedures' really when it comes to refugees anywhere.