Dubai: The Dubai Health Authority (DHA) plans to open new visa medical fitness centres including one in Karama soon to meet the huge demand, a senior executive said on Sunday.
She said new centres opened recently include one in Al Quoz 3 for visa renewals and a new women-only wing in Al Muhaisnah, which is open 24 hours.
Maisa Al Bustani, director of medical fitness at the DHA, responded to a Gulf News report yesterday about chaos at medical fitness centres in Dubai.
"There is no chaos [at the Al Satwa centre]. People could be waiting, especially during the early morning hours and work flow has always been smooth." She said 500 clients are accepted in the morning shift and 300 in the evening, of which 100 tokens are reserved in the morning for women.
Expatriates had complained that tokens run out within minutes of standing in the queue. The tokens allow the various stages of getting the papers processed.
Allegations
Maisa dismissed allegations that papers are being processed faster for a price. "There is no question of papers getting processed faster illegally for a price because the fast-track service is already available in all DHA health centres," she said.
"When there is a counter in each centre for fast-track services, it makes no sense for someone to offer an illegal service in return for money."
The cost of a medical fitness report is Dh260. To obtain results within 48 hours it costs Dh100 extra and to obtain results within 24 hours it costs Dh200 extra, she said.
Some expatriates said they cannot afford fast-track services as their companies will only reimburse the basic cost of Dh260. Others alleged they were approached by people at the entrance to Al Satwa centre muttering "quick medical" under their breath.
The executive said the Al Satwa medical centre has always been a dynamic branch due to its strategic location and as it is one of the oldest medical centres in the emirate. But there are several other alternatives where people can go, she said. The DHA has 16 centres, including those in DIFC, Al Safa, Mankhool, Al Khawaneej, Al Twar and the airport.
Maisa said a new ‘Tawajod' service has been started. DHA employees will visit the office or home of the individual who has requested this service and conduct the medical tests.
