A4.30 Completion of medical certificates (29/11/2010)

1. The Medical and Chest X-Ray Certificate must be:
   1. completed by a registered medical practitioner and a radiologist, or an Immigration New Zealand-appointed panel doctor/radiologist if required (see A4.30.5 below); and
   2. completed in English if possible.
2. If it is not possible to complete the Medical and Chest X-Ray Certificate in English, it must be submitted with a certified translation, as must any accompanying laboratory or specialist reports.

A4.30.1 Cost of undergoing medical and X-ray examinations

The New Zealand Government pays for the medical examinations of some approved refugee and protection applicants but is not responsible for meeting the costs of other applicants' medical and X-ray examinations or any associated specialist or laboratory tests or reports.

A4.30.5 Panel doctors

1. In some countries, medical and/or X-ray reports completed by local doctors and radiologists are unreliable, and, if necessary, Immigration New Zealand branches and Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT) offices may select, and require use of, a medical panel of reputable registered medical practitioners and/or radiologists.
2. All applicants within such countries must have their Medical and Chest X-Ray Certificates completed by a panel member.
3. A list of countries for which there are panel doctors is contained in Appendix 1. Applicants who are resident in one of these countries should consult the nearest branch of Immigration New Zealand for details of the appropriate panel doctor for their area.

A4.30.10 Role of Immigration New Zealand medical assessors and Ministry of Education (MoE)

1. Immigration New Zealand medical assessors are appointed to examine medical and X-ray reports that are referred to them by immigration officers.
2. The Immigration New Zealand medical assessor assesses an applicant's health on the basis of their Immigration New Zealand Medical and Chest X-Ray Certificates and associated specialist tests and reports (having regard to Government health requirements and the Immigration New Zealand Guidelines for Medical Assessors), and may refer to any source of relevant guidelines or advice, including the Ministry of Health and MoE.
3. In addition, Immigration New Zealand medical assessors provide advice concerning any medical factors that may pertain to the grant of a medical waiver.
4. The MoE assesses whether an applicant would be eligible for ORRS funding in cases where an immigration officer or Immigration New Zealand medical assessor requests advice on this matter. MoE assesses whether an applicant would be eligible for ORRS funding on the basis of the applicant's Immigration New Zealand Medical and Chest X-Ray Certificates and associated reports.

Effective 29/11/2010