Dubai: Dubai issued nearly 478,451 new visas in the first half of this year, conducting 992,322 medical fitness tests. Of these, the remaining 512, 871 were for renewal of existing visas. Medical fitness is a mandatory requirement for residency, employment and education visas.
This was revealed by Maisa Al Bustani, director of Medical Fitness at the Dubai Health Authority that conducted 992,322 fitness tests across 16 centres in the emirate. Maisa said that 478,451 medical fitness tests were conducted for new visas.
Early screening for domestic workers
Al Bustani advised residents who employ house help to get their employees screened for infectious diseases as soon as they arrive in the UAE. “Mandatory screening for housemaids includes hepatitis B, HIV, TB, syphilis and pregnancy test. The housemaid also receives all three doses of the hepatitis B vaccine, if she does not have it already. We advise people to get their house help screened as soon as they arrive in the country.”
In fact, additional screening is provided for domestic workers such as drivers, cooks, gardeners, nannies and housemaids and those working in the food industry, beauty parlours and health clubs owing to the sensitivity of their profession, Maisa added.
Mobile fitness centres
For companies with a large workforce who find it difficult to reach the fitness centre, DHA offers a mobile medical fitness service for companies with a large number of employees. “This is not the Tawajod service, it’s an additional service we started for companies with a large number of employees. This service is available for renewal and issuance of visas. Our team conducts on-the-spot blood tests in the premises of the company and then provides appointments for the X-ray tests at a centre closest to the company. We encourage more companies to make use of this opportunity. At one time more than 70 employees are screened,” Maisa said.
In addition, the DHA has the Tawajod (at your doorstep) service and Tawajod Xpress service. These additonal services are extended to people with special needs free-of-charge.
Many other services have been planned by DHA. By the end of this year, one new fitness centre is slated to come up in new Dubai areas exclusively for VIP patients.
By early 2015, DHA plans to establish two medical fitness centres for occupational screening. This screening is needed for those people who wish to get a certification according to the requirement of their profession such as a pre-employment certificate for employees working in the private and government sectors. It is also required for heavy truck drivers, civil defence personnel, people working in the food industry, etc, due to the nature of the job. The centres will be located in Mirdif and al Karama.
