Health insurance glossary
Panel physician
Plain-English definition
A panel physician is a doctor approved by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) to carry out immigration medical exams. A super visa applicant has to show proof of a medical exam with an approved panel physician. The exam is a separate requirement from the medical insurance policy; having one does not satisfy the other.
By the HealthRate editorial desk
Where this applies: Super visa and other immigration applications that require a medical exam (federal).
How it works
IRCC states: “You must provide proof that you had a medical exam with an approved panel physician.” A doctor who is not on IRCC's panel cannot do this exam for the application.
Appointments with panel physicians may not be available at short notice, so the exam is worth booking early in the application.
The medical exam and the insurance policy are checked separately. A compliant policy does not replace the exam, and a completed exam does not replace the policy.
Why it matters
An exam with the wrong doctor, or a missing exam, can hold up a super visa application even when every other document is in order.