Urgent.. The emirates announces the cancellation of some medical examinations for expatriates
The emirates announces the cancellation of some medical examinations for expatriates, The Dubai Health Authority has started the process of putting the new regulations into effect, which concern the medical fitness examination that visitors to the UAE must undergo.
According to the Director of the Medical Fitness Department at the Authority, Maysaa Al-Bustani, "The new amendment cancels the hepatitis examination for those coming into the country, and limits it to categories of servants and workers in health clubs, as well as the field of restaurants and food."
She pointed out that "the authority modified the electronic examination system in 14 examination centres spread across Dubai, in a way that enables differentiation between the categories scheduled for examination," considering that "the amendment ended the suffering of a large number of expatriate families," and "reunited wives infected with hepatitis with their husbands working in the country."
Al Bustani provided more information, stating that the authority has started applying the new adjustments to medical fitness examinations in 14 examination centres located all across the emirate.
She continued by saying, "The new amendment limits hepatitis B examination to six categories, working in the field of raising children, serving in homes, barbershops, serving food and restaurants," and she mentioned that "this examination was mandatory for all expatriates, to obtain residency."
And she elaborated by saying that "new arrivals from other than these categories are subject to examinations for acquired immunodeficiency diseases (AIDS), tuberculosis (tuberculosis), and leprosy," continuing by saying that "the electronic system applied in the medical fitness centres of the authority has been modified, in a way that divides the examination according to the category of the residence applicant."
She noted that in accordance with the revised electronic system, hepatitis B testing will only be carried out on the six categories, and this will be the case whether the residence is being obtained for the first time or if it is being renewed.
She made the point that "a pregnancy test has been added for maids upon obtaining or renewing residency," as the new amendments require that "domestic workers, such as maids, nannies, and drivers, undergo a pregnancy test before issuing a disease-free certificate," and "if the pregnancy is proven, the sponsor has the option to allow" the maid to continue working for the sponsor. After he gives a written acknowledgment that he is aware of the results of the examination, she is free to decide whether or not she wants to work for him.
Al-Bustani made the point that "the amendment solved the problem of a large number of expatriate families," as he explained that "there were husbands working in the country who were unable to bring their wives who were infected with the hepatitis C virus."
In addition, she brought up the fact that "according to the new amendment, the family of any citizen who does not hold the nationality of the state (husband, wife, children, and parents) will not be examined, and they have the right to reside without examining their medical fitness."
It has been confirmed by Al-Bustani that "patients with AIDS do not obtain residency," and that "those infected with tuberculosis are detained in isolation in Dubai, treated, and then returned to their country."
She mentioned that "leprosy examination is conducted when granting residency to new arrivals and when renewing residency, and residency is not granted or renewed for infected cases," and she also mentioned that "testing for tuberculosis (TB) is limited to the type (pulmonary tuberculosis) only, and the examination is only for new arrivals, and is not performed."
According to the Director of the Medical Fitness Department, the associated test centres with the Health Authority receive between 2,500 and 3,000 people every single day who are applying for residency or renewing their existing residency.
Last year in August, the Minister of Health Hanif Hassan made the announcement that the Council of Ministers had agreed to make changes to the system of medical examinations that are required for people entering the country for the purpose of working or residing there.
He emphasised that these changes were implemented "after the emergence of some negatives in the examination procedures that are currently applied."
He elaborated by saying that "a committee of consultants specialising in infectious diseases, directors of preventive medicine at the Ministry of Health, the health authorities in Abu Dhabi and Dubai, and legal experts studied the health and social dimensions of the examination system," adding that the committee "concluded that it was necessary to modify some examination procedures."
Examination fees
- 690 dirhams for the distinguished service, as results appear within four hours (at Al Safa Health Centers and Knowledge Village).
- 470 dirhams for the service of showing results within 24 hours.
- 370 dirhams for the service of showing results within 48 hours.
- 260 dirhams for the service of showing results within five working days.
Medical examinations for the six categories
- Hepatitis B screening.
- Syphilis screening.
- AIDS screening.
- Leprosy examination.
- Examination of pulmonary tuberculosis.
Renewal of residency for the six categories
- Hepatitis B screening.
- Syphilis screening.
- AIDS screening.
- Leprosy examination.
Renewal of other categories
- Syphilis screening.
- AIDS screening.
- Leprosy examination.
