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Medical Surveillance

Are you new to Canada and living in BC? Have IRCC told you to complete medical surveillance? We can help.

Questions & Answers

You may have a lot of questions about medical surveillance. The information below will help you understand the medical surveillance process and Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) requirements. To ensure you have the most current information, check the IRCC Medical Surveillance webpage.

  • Medical surveillance is a medical check-up for a person who has newly arrived in Canada to check that their inactive tuberculosis (TB) hasn’t progressed to TB disease. 
  • Medical surveillance is required for anyone with inactive TB on their immigration medical examination (IME).
  • Medical surveillance ensures that proper treatment can be provided, which helps protect the health and safety of you, your family and your community.
  • Inactive TB is the only medical condition for which medical surveillance is required.
 
 

‎Find out if you need an Immigration Medical Exam (IME) from Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada.

Find a doctor in your country, territory or region for your Immigration Medical Exam (IME). Only Panel Physicians approved by IRCC can do this exam. If you have questions about your IME, contact Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada directly. 

 
 
You need Medical Surveillance if:
  • On your immigration medical exam, an IRCC physician assessed that you have inactive tuberculosis (TB) and you’re already in Canada. OR
  • You’ve been contacted and informed you need medical surveillance by the Public Health Liaison Unit of IRCC.
An assessment of inactive TB means you either:
  • Had TB Disease in the past.
  • Have TB Infection (also called Latent TB Infection).
  • Have been exposed to TB bacteria.
Medical surveillance is essential to:
  • Ensure that your inactive TB hasn’t progressed to TB Disease.
  • Help connect you to the health care you may require to manage your TB Infection.
  • Ensure you receive proper treatment should you develop TB Disease in the future.
 

Medical surveillance depends on your immigration medical examination (IME) results, which may have been required for your immigration application process. If the results of your IME indicate inactive TB, you will need a medical check-up with a physician once you arrive in Canada. 

 

If you were given a document at the port of entry telling you to report to your provincial or territorial public health authority in Canada within 7 or 30 days after arriving in Canada, disregard it. 


The IRCC needs your contact information in Canada to start the medical surveillance process. Once you have your contact information, please email the Public Health Liaison Unit at IRCC. 


 
 

Please wait for us to contact you.

  • The Public Health Liaison Unit at IRCC will tell the BCCDC TB Services that you’ve arrived in Canada.
  • The BCCDC TB clinics or your regional health authority are responsible for arranging your medical surveillance appointment. Each area has its procedure and timeline for managing these appointments. 
  • It may take months for you to be contacted. Please be patient and know they have your information and will contact you.
  • If you develop signs and symptoms of TB disease, it is vital to speak to a healthcare provider immediately (right away). 

 

If you develop signs and symptoms of TB disease, it is vital to speak to a healthcare provider immediately (right away). 


Some symptoms of TB disease include:

  • cough for two weeks or more
  • fever
  • coughing up blood
  • sweating at night
  • constant tiredness
  • loss of weight or appetite

Are you worried about TB disease? We can help. Contact your doctor, local health unit or one of our TB clinics.

Please wait for us to contact you.

  • Attend TB appointments with the BCCDC TB Clinic or your regional health authority public health unit.
  • Suppose you live in the greater Vancouver area (lower mainland). In that case, you will either receive a letter in the mail or a phone call from the BCCDC TB Clinic with an appointment day and time. 
  • Your appointment will be on the phone with a nurse. The nurse will ask you health questions and tell you what tests you need.
  • If you live in another area of BC, your regional health authority public health nurses will contact you for an appointment and follow-up.
 

Yes, you will have to pay for TB tests unless:

  • You have the BC Medical Services Plan (MSP) health insurance coverage. Go to the MSP Eligibility and Enrolment to apply.
  • You are a refugee. Refugees and refugee claimants may be eligible for IME coverage and other TB-related medical services through the Interim Federal Health Program.
  • You have private insurance. Depending on your provider, they may cover some or all of the costs of tests. Please check with your insurance provider.

Remember to bring valid government-issued photo identification (e.g., passport) and medical surveillance forms or documentation.

The nurse will ask health questions, give you three sputum sample bottles, a chest x-ray requisition, and recommend other tests. Other tests may include a tuberculin skin test (TST) or a TB blood test (IGRA). Please complete all the required tests.  
 
 

‎You may have more than one TB appointment, depending on your test results, TB history, or any TB symptoms. It is essential to attend your TB appointments.


If you live in the greater Vancouver area (lower mainland)

Once you have completed all the recommended tests, a BCCDC TB doctor will review your results and make recommendations. The IRCC Public Health Liaison Unit will be notified of your medical surveillance completion. Continuing TB care may be recommended once medical surveillance requirements have been met.


Other parts of the BC

Once you have completed all the recommended tests, a TB doctor will review your results and make recommendations. Your regional health authority will call you to discuss your test results and the doctor's advice. The IRCC Public Health Liaison Unit will be notified of your medical surveillance completion. Continuing TB care may be recommended once medical surveillance requirements have been met.

The average time to complete Medical Surveillance in BC is 6-9 months.

 

You have completed your medical surveillance (met compliance) when:


  • You had your TB appointment(s), and the IRCC Public Health Liaison Unit informed you by email that you met your medical surveillance requirement.                 

OR

  • You had an IME inside Canada, a TB clinic saw you and the IRCC Public Health Liaison Unit informed you by email that you met your medical surveillance requirement.

Note: The BCCDC TB clinics or your BC public health unit may continue to follow up with you about TB. Follow their instructions, as you are also required to reach compliance with both IRCC and BC public health.


 
  • No. TB disease does not affect your immigration status in Canada or your family's status. 
  • TB Disease can be cured, and treatment is free in BC. 
  • A TB nurse will work with you and your healthcare provider during treatment.
 
  • You received an email notifying you of non-compliance. In that case, you haven't complied with the medical surveillance requirement associated with your immigration or visa application.
  • Medical surveillance is a condition of your status in Canada. You must complete your medical surveillance requirement as soon as possible. If you don’t, it may negatively impact any current or new immigration applications to Canada. For example, until BCCDC or your regional health authority confirms with IRCC that you’ve complied with medical surveillance. Your Canadian citizenship application could be delayed.
  • If you need help completing your medical surveillance requirement or believe you've completed it, email the IRCC Public Health Liaison Unit.
  • In your email, provide your full name and unique client identifier (UCI) number.

IRCC Public Health Liaison Unit Email:



 
If you leave Canada, and you aren't in contact with the BCCDC TB clinics or your regional health authority, OR you haven’t completed medical surveillance, here are the things to do:
  • Email the IRCC Public Health Liaison Unit that you're travelling outside Canada.
  • See a doctor if you have any signs or symptoms of TB disease before travelling.
  • If you return to Canada and change your home address, phone number or email, email the IRCC Public Health Liaison Unit. In your email, provide your full name and unique client identifier (UCI) number.

IRCC Public Health Liaison Unit Email:


If you have questions about medical surveillance, you can email the Public Health Liaison Unit at:

IRCC.MHBSurveillance-SurveillanceDGMS.IRCC@cic.gc.ca


In  your email, provide your full name and unique client identifier (UCI) number.

 
SOURCE: Medical Surveillance ( )
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