Dubai: Dubai Municipality has confirmed that its health certificates will again be accepted by the Ministry of Labour for issuing visas.
The problem was highlighted this week, when companies sending employees for residence visa medical tests had their certificates, issued by the municipality, rejected by the Ministry of Labour.
Companies now have to pay again for medical testing, at facilities run by the preventive medicine department at the Ministry of Health, Dubai Health Authority and Abu Dhabi Health Authority.
At the time, the Ministry of Labour said it was following a UAE Cabinet decision, enforced from July 1, which stipulates that municipalities would no longer be able to issue the health certificates.
Dubai Municipality has confirmed to Gulf News that a Memorandum of Understanding is in place and that a final go-ahead is due to be given by the Department of Health and Medical Services soon. No specific date has been given.
Zuhoor Al Sabbagh, director of the public health services department, Dubai Municipality, said: "We discussed this issue with the Department of Health and the Dubai Health Authority and signed an agreement in order to facilitate the medical screening process for expatriate employees and labourers." She said health certificates will carry the Department of Health logo.
Al Sabbagh also said that the municipality's E-Clinic Services will be used by the Department of Health and the Health Authority to facilitate expatriate residence permit applications.
- With inputs by Nina Muslim, staff reporter
