NZ, Australia jointly manage overseas immigration physicians

19 April 2013

New Zealand and Australia agree to jointly manage overseas immigration physicians

New Zealand and Australia have agreed to align the management of an offshore network of panel physicians to improve the quality of health examinations visa applicants receive. Panel physicians are doctors and radiologists who undertake immigration health examinations for visa applicants.

Alignment of New Zealand and Australia’s panel networks will begin today, creating a jointly managed network co-ordinated by Immigration New Zealand (INZ) and the Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC).

In a joint statement, the Head of INZ, Nigel Bickle, and his Australian counterpart, the Secretary of DIAC, Martin Bowles said the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed today would have several benefits to both countries.

The benefits of alignment include:
• improved customer service;
• targeted communication, administration, performance management and training for a single panel physician network, and related cost savings;
• enhanced integrity through robust auditing and analysis;
• expansion of tuberculosis screening and treatment networks; and
• progression of Five Country Conference objectives including the promotion of health protection and efficiency through effective shared management and quality assurance, and promoting best practice, partnership and shared investment.

Mr Bowles said the arrangement would facilitate INZ implementing electronic processing of its immigration health examinations and support broader alignment of Australian and New Zealand immigration health policies and processes.

Mr Bickle said INZ and DIAC had agreed that implementation of the network would occur in three phases, commencing today, and was expected to be fully implemented by July 2014.

ENDS

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