Migrant health screening implementation timeframe

Thursday 17 March 2005

The Department of Labour today announced a changed implementation timeframe for aspects of the new migrant health screening package.

As earlier announced, increased tuberculosis screening of migrants would be fully implemented as from April 4. However, the implementation of other additional health screening requirements also planned to roll out next month, have been deferred.

From next month, all potential migrants who are a high TB risk and are planning to be in New Zealand for six months or more, will be tested. The age at which TB screening is required will be lowered from 12 years to 11 years.

Potential migrants are considered a TB risk if they are a citizen of a country with a high incidence of the disease, or they have spent three months or more in a country with high TB rates in the past five years.

Department of Labour Deputy Secretary Workforce Mary Anne Thompson said next month’s TB screening changes follow a stepped approach. Screening of international students began in June 2004, followed by visitor and work visa applicants five months later in November 2004.

As from next month, the interim exemption granted to working holiday makers intending on being here for at least six months would be lifted.

Ms Thompson said the implementation of the remaining health screening requirements had been deferred following feedback received during consultation.

“Feedback from medical examiners on the revised medical screening requirements has prompted us to alter the timeframe so we can undertake more preparation to ensure changes are effectively implemented,” Ms Thompson says.

“The objective of the policy, to manage potential health risks of immigration, without discouraging potential migrants, remains unchanged.

Our intention is to make sure that people migrating to New Zealand are healthy and aren’t likely to need expensive, or extensive medical care in the foreseeable future. The expected timeframe for further changes to be implemented is July, but this could change as we progress.”

Medical professionals and organisations involved with immigration are being advised of the changes. All information is on the website, and applicants are advised to visit www.immigration.govt.nz to access current information.