NZ and Australia agree immigration physician deal

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Created on Monday, 22 April 2013 13:48

Written by Editorial staff

People applying for immigration visas could be set for enhanced health examinations due to a new partnership between New Zealand and Australia.

The two countries agreed to align the management of an overseas network of panel physicians - doctors and radiologists who are involved in medical checks on visa applicants.

According to the Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC), the deal would ensure the nations can jointly manage and co-ordinate these panel networks in a manner that would benefit both NZ and Australia.

Among the benefits listed by the DIAC were:

·      expansion of screening and treatments for tuberculosis
·      improved customer service
·      more robust auditing and analysis processes
·      cost savings
·      better targeted communication, performance management, administration and training for a single panel physician network

The DIAC also stated that the agreement would help progression towards the Five Country Conference aims, specifically the achievement of a more streamlined and well-promoted health protection system through shared management.

The announcement was made in a joint statement by head of Immigration New Zealand (INZ) Nigel Bickle and Martin Bowles, secretary of the DIAC.

Mr Bickle claimed the two departments agreed to move ahead with the network integration over the course of three phases - starting on Friday (April 19) - with full implementation expected by July next year.

Mr Bowles added that the partnership would also enable the INZ to speed up its electronic processing of immigration health examinations, while also supporting the general alignment of the two countries' medical policies and structures.

The news comes after recent DIAC statistics revealed there were currently more than 600,000 New Zealanders living in Australia on temporary visas.

This is representative of almost one-third of the NZ population, with better employment opportunities and economic conditions in Australia listed as a primary factor for the influx of visitors.