UAE | Health
Emirate's oldest hospital to stop visa certification medicals
Services will now shift to Al Muhaisna Medical Fitness Centre.
- By Nina MuslimStaff Reporter
- Published: 23:35 January 5, 2009
Dubai: The emirate's oldest hospital will stop offering medical fitness certification services this afternoon, ending its decade-old function. Services will now shift to a state-of-art medical complex.
Al Maktoum Hospital, which has been providing expatriates with their medical fitness certification since the 1990s, will transfer its responsibilities to the recently-launched Al Muhaisna Medical Fitness Centre, a one-stop visa fitness certification centre which can serve up to 5,000 people a day.
Maisa Al Bustani, director of the medical fitness department at Dohms, told Gulf News services at Al Muhaisna Medical Fitness Centre would begin on Sunday.
"We will not accept clients at Maktoum Hospital from Tuesday afternoon onwards. Beginning Sunday, we can take clients at Al Muhaisna Centre," she said.
Four-day gap
She said the four-day gap of services between Al Maktoum and Al Muhaisna was due to the transfer of services, adding health officials also needed time to make sure equipment and other items were in working order.
"Other centres (that offer medical fitness certification) are not be affected by the transfer and will continue their services as usual," she said.
Among the centres that offer the services are Al Safa PHC for executives, Satwa PHC for labourers and Al Twar for maids.
Expatriates have to undergo medical fitness certification every three years as part of their residency and employment visa requirements. Foreigners seeking to work and stay in the UAE are tested for HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and Hepatitis B. Positive results mean visa denial.
Al Maktoum Hospital is one of the few centres which could perform the tests in Dubai after the UAE barred municipality clinics and private medical centres from issuing residency fitness certificates.
Latest news
- Sharjah boy tops Indian board's class 12 exams
- Dubai number plates auction raises Dh27m
- Youngsters dance and raise cash for charity
- Dubai departments upgrade services
- Get yourself a free test for diabetes
- Ensuring a safety net for intellectual property
- Reader's issue addressed
- 5,552 illegals held in Dubai this year
- Man cleared because he took drugs in France
- Man charged with trafficking women
- Auditors to probe Mizin graft case
- Breaking down cultural barriers with photographs
- Abu Dhabi Crown Prince visits Islamic centre
- Smart e-Gate system launched
- Cyber infidelity creeping out of virtual domain
Community Reports
-
Mirror, mirror show me the way
Driver on Salam Street had so many boxes and fruits piled into car, he would not be able to view rear or right side mirrors
-
Parents should be more vigilant
Reader's picture highlights risk of negligence by caretakers
-
Warming up to ‘Mobilise the Earth' theme
Dubai school dedicates a whole week to celebrating Earth Day with can-collection drives, sapling plantation and painting competition among others
-
Drivers using mobiles put others' lives at risk
Speeding is dangerous for the driver and other motorists
