ARCHIVED – Operational Bulletin 419 (Expired) - May 17, 2012

Designated Medical Practitioner changed to Panel Physician

This Operational Bulletin has expired.

Summary

The title for all physicians who are authorized to perform Canadian immigration medical examinations was Designated Medical Practitioners (DMPs). Effective immediately, the title adopted by Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) is Panel Physicians. This decision only affects the English language title for physicians in our network. The French language title will remain Médecins désignés (MD).

Issue

To inform all those concerned of the change in title from Designated Medical Practitioners to Panel Physicians.

Background

In order to ensure that immigration applicants do not pose a risk to public health or safety, or would not cause an excessive demand on Canada’s health and social services, applicants must submit to an immigration medical examination upon request (s.16(2)(b) IRPA). In an effort to ensure the quality and integrity of the Immigration Medical Examination Program, CIC designates medical practitioners. These medical practitioners have been called Designated Medical Practitioners (DMPs) until now.

Reason for the name change

In an ongoing process to align our networks of examiners with our international partners to improve quality and program integrity, as well as to improve managing this large network of medical practitioners, the Five Country Conference (Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and the United States) agreed to use the common title “Panel Physician” to refer to immigration medical practitioners. Although these countries have agreed to use a common title, it does not automatically give a CIC Panel Physician the authority to perform immigration medical examinations for the other countries – that is a decision for each country’s immigration health authority to make.

Therefore, starting immediately, CIC will refer to DMPs as Panel Physicians. Since none of our partner countries have the same official languages obligation as Canada does, this change only affects the English language title for physicians in our network. The French language title will remain Médecins désignés (MD).