New medical certificate ruling confuses Sharjah residents

Sharjah: The municipality healthcare clinic in Nasseriya continues to operate and is causing confusion for residents who do not know where to obtain their medical certificates.

Despite a decree issued by the Cabinet stating that municipal clinics will not be allowed to issue medical certificates, the municipality clinic continues to offer medical certificates. They can now only be issued by clinics functioning under the authority of the Ministry of Health, Sharjah Medical District and the Preventive Medicine Department.

Residents told Gulf News that it was only after they had paid the fees for the medical certificates at Nasseriya, that employees informed them they were not recognised by the Ministry of Health.

"After paying Dh200, I was told that I had to go to the clinic run by the Ministry of Health in Al Ghubaiba. I had to pay a further Dh230 if I wanted to obtain the certificate," said Abdul Sattar.

Another resident added that despite hundreds of people queuing at the municipality clinic, no official had explained to them beforehand as to what the necessary procedure was for acquiring a medical certificate.

"I have spent Dh500 in total for the certificate and health card. There is no alternative and I have to pay for it twice. Nobody wants to give me a refund," said Mohammad Vadekkandi.

Ministry of Health officials responded that although it was unfortunate residents had to pay twice for their medical statements, it was the responsibility of Sharjah Municipality to inform them that they were not allowed to issue them any more.

"As of May 1, municipality clinics are not supposed to issue medical certificates and we cannot accept them any more," said Dr Gamil Torky, technical director at the Preventive Medicine Department in Sharjah.

A senior official at Sharjah Municipality explained that although the Ministry of Labour did not accept certificates from municipal clinics, they are still accepted by Sharjah Immigration Department.

"Residents who are employed by the government do not have to go through the Ministry of Labour, and that is why their medical certificates can still be given at the municipality clinic," he said.

However, the official stressed that employees at private companies should go straight to the clinic at Al Ghubaiba because their papers had to be processed by the Immigration Department.