Ministers are to outline plans to introduce a levy on students or foreign workers who come to the UK for more than half a year.

The fee, likely to be around £200 a year, will be an addition to the visa charge, officials say.

The cost will “ensure that migrants contribute towards the cost of their healthcare while not increasing red tape and administration for NHS professionals,” a Department of Health spokesman said.

While many people will appreciate the need for migrants to “contribute towards the cost of their healthcare” Bradford-based debt adviser Nisar Afsar is concerned the move could prompt people with infectious diseases to boycott their GP.

He believes it may also exacerbate debt problems already present in communities across Bradford.

“My major worry is the vast majority will not seek treatment if they have got any infectious or contagious diseases. The other thing is that it is going to put people into more debt,” says Nisar, head of service and specialist debt adviser with Bradford Community Advice and Debt Solutions, an organisation working with family centres and schools.

A public consultation on the plans to introduce charges is expected to be announced as part of a raft of changes to immigration laws.

Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt says: “We need to ensure that those residing or visiting the UK are contributing to the system in the same way as British taxpayers, and ensure we do as much as possible to target illegal migration.

“We have been clear that we are a national health service not an international health service and I am determined to wipe out abuse in the system. The NHS is a national treasure and we need to work with the entire health system to develop plans and make sure it is sustainable for years to come.”

He will also outline plans to end free access to GPs for short-term visitors. But the National AIDS Trust said that the initiatives could risk the lives of people living with HIV and would also threaten the health of Britons.

Says Nisar: “The difficulty we have with the new proposed fee is if it is implemented it will undermine the years of hard and positive work that has been done by associations like HIV.

“What we really need is free access to GPs in order to reduce the risk of undiagnosed infectious disease because I believe if the proposed fee is implemented it will put society at risk.”

A Department of Health spokesman said people with HIV would still receive free healthcare if the scheme went ahead.

But Nisar fears the proposed fee will lead to greater mental health problems and place increased pressure on debt advisers, children’s centres, family support workers and health visitors who, he says, are already struggling to do their jobs due to the cuts and lack of resources.

He says the plans may also have an impact on crime, with people resorting to fraud or deception to obtain money.

Nisar also claims there is a lack of consistency in fees some GPs can charge for letters deemed as private work.

Nisar says he has case studies of families, not just those from the EU but from India and Pakistan, who have been charged between £20 to £40 for a letter they need to prove they have dependents in the UK enabling them to claim Jobseekers Allowance.

“There is no consistency as far as I understand this regarding private work by GPs, and GPs at different practices, different surgeries, charge different rates. Some charge £20, some charge £25 and some charge £30, some charge £40 and some even £50,” claims Nisar.

A Department of Health spokesperson says: “GP services funded by the NHS should be for the benefit of the majority of patients.

“Under their contract, they must provide certain medical reports for free. However, they can charge for letters and some reports, including supporting claims for Job Seekers Allowance.

“The British Medical Association suggests guideline fees for these extra services and recommends GPs alert patients to them early on.”