UAE | Visa
Dubai medical centres brace for residency health test rush
The public and facilities approved by the emirate's health authority to do residency medical fitness tests fear being overwhelmed, while waiting for municipality clinics to be allowed to continue issuing medical fitness certificates.
- By Nina Muslim, Staff Reporter
- Published: 23:21 August 18, 2008
- Image Credit: Alice Johnson/ Gulf News
- People queue at the Dubai Municiaplity Clinic in Deira.
Dubai: The public and facilities approved by the emirate's health authority to do residency medical fitness tests fear being overwhelmed, while waiting for municipality clinics to be allowed to continue issuing medical fitness certificates.
Effective July 1, municipality clinics can no longer conduct residency medical fitness tests following a Cabinet decision.
Residents have been confused over where to go to renew their residency visa, after fitness tests they underwent at the municipality clinic in Dubai were rejected by the Ministry of Labour.
Although Dubai Municipality clinics have signed an agreement with Dubai Department of Health and Medical Services (Dohms) to continue conducting medical fitness tests, there is no word when it will come into effect.
A senior official at Dohms, who declined to be named, told Gulf News, residents should undergo their medical fitness tests only at centres approved to issue health certificates required for a residency visa.
"[Residents] can do it at Dohms primary healthcare centres, but not at hospitals. And Al Maktoum Hospital [which has been turned into a primary healthcare centre] is doing the tests like before," he said.
However, medical centres fear being overwhelmed by residents seeking to renew their visas while waiting for Dubai municipality clinics to be re-instated.
Dr. Mustafa Al Hashimi, director Al Baraha Hospital, told Gulf News they used to serve as many as 1,500 applicants daily. "Now the number will definitely go up. We can only serve a maximum of 2,000 a day," he said.
Dr Ottmar Schmidt, director of marketing and public relations at Welcare World Health Systems, told Gulf News the group's centre in Knowledge Village was only doing tests for employees of certain companies.
"We do it only for the TECOM area, not for the general public. We're not sure if we can do it [for the general public]," he said.
Where to go: Test locations
- Al Maktoum Hospital, Deira
- All Dohms primary healthcare centres. For a comprehensive list, go to www.dohms.gov.ae
- Al Baraha Hospital, Abu Hail
- Cedars-Jebel Ali International Hospital
- Iranian Hospital, Satwa
- Welcare Ambulatory Care Centre, Knowledge Village
- The Specialised Clinical Laboratory, Deira
- Biosytech Medical Laboratory, Bur Dubai
- Prime Diagnostic Centre, Deira
Latest news
- Dubai porter found dead inside container
- Dubai Municipality plans new zoo in emirate
- Strong winds and haze expected in the UAE
- Dubai Police deny reports of Burj Khalifa fire
- New road eases traffic problems in Dubai
- Abu Dhabi hosts strong man contest
- Farmers to be taught techniques to improve yield
- Keep recycling bins open
- President of Wollongong varsity about his plans
- Challenging role in Libya
- Parachuting event promises rich fare
- UAE ministry backs efficacy of Tas'heel system
- UAE students on research trip to Antarctica
- Brothers held in Sharjah for possessing heroin
- Fund drive for displaced Syrians launched
Community Reports
-
Keep recycling bins open
People should be allowed to do their part as the world moves towards a greener future
-
Bridges needed
Al Ittihad Road has no pedestrian facilities as one nears Sharjah
-
Street lights needed
Authorities urged to act with haste before a major accident occurs in Al Nahda, Dubai
-
Motorists ignore stop sign on buses
Overtaking school vehicles can put students' lives at risk
