HAAD action against doctor for selling sick leaves
Health Facilities Licensing Department figures say he made recommendations for 486 medical leaves in three months.
Abu Dhabi: The Health Authority-Abu Dhabi (HAAD) has taken disciplinary action against a number of medical facilities and professionals for violating the rules and regulations of the Authority on the basis on the recommendations of the Medical and Pharmaceutical Licensing Committee.
As part of the actions, one doctor has been banned from practicing while warnings have been the issued to a number of pharmacists, school clinics and health centres.
Zaid Al Siksek, CEO of HAAD, has called upon health institutions and professionals to adhere to the systems and policies laid down by the Health Authority Abu Dhabi. He confirmed that HAAD is ready to provide advice and technical assistance to various facilities to assist in their development and improvement of performance levels.
Dr Ali Obaid Al Ali, Chairman of the Licensing Committee and Director of the Health Regulation Department at HAAD commented that the Health Compliance Department, through a number of field visits by its Quality Auditors, submitted a series of reports on irregularities seen within medical facilities and professionals.
One such report mentioned a doctor, working in a specialised medical centre, trading sick leave, after having been previously suspended from practicing for two months for the same offense.
According to statistics provided by the Health Facilities Licensing Department, he made recommendations for 486 medical leaves in three months. In April 2009 he granted 155 sick leaves, in May the number was136, and in the month of June it became 195The Committee revoked the doctor’s license and banned him from future practice in health care.
The Authority issued a further warning to a pharmacy after discovering it was disbursing prescription only medicines without a prescription.
During visits to school clinics, the Quality Audit team found four employees working as school nurses without permits or licenses. The Committee took action by warning these schools and removing those employees from the school clinic immediately. In turn the Abu Dhabi Educational Zone and Abu Dhabi Education Council were notified.
The Quality Audit team also found a reception clerk working as a dentist in a health center. The Committee have sent a warning to the Center and referred the employee to the Public Prosecutor for further investigation.
