Fact Sheet 67a – Pre-departure Medical Screening (PDMS)
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What is PDMS?
Pre-departure Medical Screening (PDMS) is a health check undertaken within 72 hours of departure for refugee and humanitarian visa holders, primarily to ensure that they are healthy enough to undertake the long flights to Australia (‘fit to fly’).
PDMS is in addition to mandatory health checks completed prior to the grant of a visa.
What does PDMS include?
Depending on the location PDMS may involve:- a physical examination
- tuberculosis (TB) evaluation for people with a history of TB
- malaria and parasites testing and treatment
- measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) immunisations for people aged nine months – 30 years.
Why do we have PDMS?
PDMS protects the health of refugees by ensuring they are ‘fit to fly’ and providing referrals to healthcare services they need once they arrive in Australia.
PDMS also contributes to maintaining the high level of public health enjoyed by the Australian community.
Who provides PDMS?
PDMS is performed by qualified health practitioners endorsed by the department. In the majority of regions where PDMS is offered, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) conducts PDMS on behalf of the department.
IOM is an inter-governmental organisation that manages the safe and efficient passage of displaced persons, refugees and other migrants to their final destination. This is achieved through the provision of services and advice on travel and related issues to governments and to migrants. The IOM has about 400 offices in more than 120 countries across the world.
Making a PDMS appointment
An immigration officer or IOM representative will contact refugee and humanitarian visa holders to organise a PDMS appointment at a time and location that is convenient for the visa holder.
Visa holders are asked to respond as soon as possible to make this appointment.
What happens after PDMS?
If the visa holder is given a clean bill of health at the PDMS health check, travel to Australia is undertaken as planned.
If any problems are identified through the PDMS health check the client may be assisted in a number of ways:
- immediate treatment until they are ‘fit to fly’
- follow up treatment arranged for them once they arrive in Australia.
If travel is delayed in order to complete required medical treatments identified at PDMS, then new arrangements for travel will be made.
The department will cover any costs associated with overseas treatment for conditions identified at PDMS.
In some cases, for a visa holder with special health needs, a medical escort may be provided to accompany them during their travel to Australia and provide any required health care.
The department’s settlement support service providers are on hand in Australia to assist new arrivals with any special needs, including health needs.
Where do we offer PDMS?
In order to make PDMS available to refugee and humanitarian visa holders, the department has introduced the service to cover selected locations in the Middle East, Africa, South and South East Asia.
Further information is available on the department's web site.
See: www.immi.gov.au
The department also operates a national telephone service inquiry line.
Telephone: 131 881
Hours of operation: Monday to Friday from 9 am to 4 pm (recorded information available outside these hours) for the cost of a local call anywhere in Australia.
Fact Sheet 67a. Produced by the National Communications Branch, Department of Immigration and Citizenship, Canberra.
Last Reviewed 4 November 2009.
© Commonwealth of Australia 2009.