Fact Sheet 67a – Pre-Departure Medical Screening (PDMS)
On this page
Pre-Departure Medical Screening (PDMS) is a health check undertaken within 72 hours of departure for holders of refugee and humanitarian visas.
PDMS is primarily to ensure that clients are healthy enough to undertake the long flight to Australia ('fit to fly') and that additional support is provided throughout the flight if required.
PDMS will also identify any illness that may need a follow-up in Australia soon after arrival.
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 from nine months to 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, by ensuring that clients will be healthy or receive the health care needed before they travel or when they arrive in Australia.
For this reason, information on health care needs may be provided to doctors in Australia to assist with treatment on arrival.
Will visas be cancelled?
Valid refugee and humanitarian visa holders will not be prevented from travelling to Australia if an illness is identified at PDMS, however travel may be delayed until they are 'fit to fly'
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 helped 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.
In some cases, for a visa holder with special health needs, a medical escort may accompany them during their travel to Australia to 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.
Who pays for treatment?
The department will cover any costs associated with overseas treatment for conditions identified at PDMS.
Once in Australia, the Australian Government provides help with medical expenses and hospital care through Medicare.
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 safe and efficient travel for displaced persons, refugees and other migrants to their final destination. This is achieved through providing 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.
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 website.
See: www.immi.gov.au
The department also operates a national general enquiries line.
Telephone: 131 881
Hours of operation: Monday to Friday from 8.30 am to 4.30 pm (recorded information is available outside these hours).
Fact Sheet 67a. Produced by the National Communications Branch, Department of Immigration and Citizenship, Canberra.
Last Reviewed 18 February 2011.
© Commonwealth of Australia 2009.