Fact Sheet 67a - Pre-departure Medical Screening (PDMS)

What is PDMS?

Pre-departure Medical Screening (PDMS) is a voluntary health check undertaken within 72 hours of departure for Refugee and Humanitarian visa holders, primarily to ensure that clients are ‘fit to fly’.
Depending on their location PDMS may involve:

a physical examination
tuberculosis (TB) evaluation for clients with a history of TB
malaria and parasites testing and treatment
mumps, measles and rubella (MMR) immunisations for people aged nine months – 30 years

Why do we have PDMS?

PDMS improves health outcomes for refugees, including providing enhanced links to onshore health services.
PDMS 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.

What happens after PDMS?

If the client 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 client is ‘fit to fly’
follow up treatment arranged for the client onshore in Australia.

If travel is delayed in order to complete the medical processes involved in PDMS, then new arrangements for travel will be made.
The department will cover any costs associated with offshore treatment for conditions identified at PDMS.
In some cases, for a client with special health needs, a medical escort may be provided to accompany the client 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 provide PDMS to clients, 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 9am to 4pm (recorded information available outside these hours) for the cost of a local call anywhere in Australia.