UAE | General
ID card to replace health card
The Ministry of Health announced on Wednesday that the new Identity Card can replace the Health Card to obtain services at public hospitals.
- By Nina Muslim, Staff Reporter
- Published: 00:02 November 27, 2008
Dubai: The Ministry of Health announced on Wednesday that the new Identity Card can replace the Health Card to obtain services at public hospitals.
Starting today, the ID card will replace the health card at medical facilities for those who have obtained it, Humaid Al Qutami, Minister of Health told Gulf News on Wednesday. But those who have yet to get the ID card can still obtain medical services using their health cards, he explained.
Earlier, the WAM news agency quoted a ministry circular issued to all directors and officials in health zones, hospitals and specialised health centres as saying that new health cards will not be issued without the ID card.
Dr Ahmad Bin Shukur, Director General of the ministry, said that this step is part of the UAE's policy of considering the ID card as the official document required in dealings with all government bodies.
Deadline
"The ID [card] is a prerequisite for getting a health card ... it has all the correct and updated details of the person and eliminates duplication," he told WAM.
The deadline for obtaining the card is December 31 this year for professionals. A senior official had earlier said that no extension will be made but people who do not obtain the card will not be fined.
Huge crowds of people were seen lately at the centres as there were initially some glitches in the system and applicants could not get an appointment despite filling in the forms.
Residents were advised to get the card soon because a new category of applicants would be opened after the professional category.
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