MEDIA RELEASE
008.09
23 January 2009
Immigration health services contract finalised
The Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC) has signed a contract
with International Health and Medical Services (IHMS) to provide a range of
health services to people in immigration detention around Australia.
The five-year immigration health services contract is for the provision of a
comprehensive range of health services including those related to mental,
physical and dental health.
The negotiated contract will ensure people in community or facilities-based
immigration detention receive health care that is fair and reasonable,
commensurate with Australia’s international obligations and comparable with
that available to the broader Australian community.
The government's new directions in detention policy and key immigration
detention values informed the negotiations between DIAC and IHMS.
“After an extensive evaluation and negotiation period, IHMS was assessed as
best placed to ensure people in detention receive appropriate health services
–
aligned to those available to the broader Australian community,” a
departmental spokesman said today.
“The tender process resulted in a high quality field of potential services
providers.
“All tender bids were evaluated on their merits in order to ensure that high
service delivery standards would be met while achieving the best value for
money for the Commonwealth.
“Great care was taken to ensure that the tender process was conducted
according to the highest probity standards,” he added.
The development of the tender documentation was undertaken after extensive
community and industry consultations.
Some 60 organisations participated in these consultations including the
Australian Human Rights Commission, the Commonwealth Ombudsman’s
Office and United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.
Media enquiries: National Communications (02) 6264 2244
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