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Visas: DM clinics will conduct medical test

DUBAI — The Dubai Municipality clinics will continue to carry out medical fitness examination and issue fitness certificates that are mandatory for getting residence and labour visas for expatriates.

This is according to a recent agreement signed between the Dubai Health Authority and Dubai Municipality. The agreement also empowers the DM to issue health cards and sick leave certificates which are in addition to the medical fitness certificates which the DM has been carrying out for a while.

The agreement also contradicts earlier reports that effective from July 1, only medical facilities run by the preventive medicine department at the Ministry of Health, DHA and Abu Dhabi Health Authority will be authorised to do the testing. It is also not clear whether the MoH will implement the decision in other emirates as well or not. Expatriates are required to undergo medical tests every three years or when they change jobs to check for infectious diseases.

Qadhi Saeed Al Murooshid, Director-General of DHA, said that in accordance with the terms of the agreement, the DM would be committed to all criteria and specific controls on the services which are consistent with the Cabinet Decision No. (7) 2008. “The agreement aims at promoting the process of development and growth in the emirate and achieving the common objectives of both parties,” he added. Al Murooshid said, “The rapid development in Dubai has put pressure on DHA’s health services. So this decision has been taken to prevent delay in the deadlines and procedures.”

Hussein Nasser Lootah, acting Director-General of DM, who signed the agreement on behalf of the municipality, said, “There is a need to strengthen the spirit of cooperation and inter-dependence between governmental departments which can upgrade the level of services provided by the city to its society.”

• UAE