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29 March 2024

A million Dubai residents did medical fitness tests in H1

Published
By Staff

Nearly a million medical fitness tests were conducted in the first half of 2014, announced the Dubai Health Authority (DHA).

“The medical fitness department at the DHA conducted a total of 992,322 medical fitness procedures, of which 478,451 fitness tests were for issuance of new visas and the remaining were for renewal of visas,” said Maisa Al Bustani, Director of Medical Fitness at the DHA.

The medical fitness test is a mandatory requirement for all expats entering the UAE and applying for a visa, be it a residency, employment or education visa.

Once the visa has expired, a new medical fitness test must be done in order to renew the visa.

Although the screening programme is the same for the majority of the new population, two categories of employees undergo additional screening, the first category including household workers such as drivers, cooks, gardeners, nannies and housemaids, and the second targeting people in the food industry, those working in beauty parlours and in health clubs.

“Additional screening is required for these categories because of the sensitivity of their profession,” explained Al Bustani.

“Mandatory screening for housemaids includes Hepatitis B, HIV, TB, Syphilis and a 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.”

The DHA has 16 medical fitness centres located across different parts of the emirate for issuance and renewal of medical fitness tests.

In addition, a mobile medical fitness service is offered 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.”

In addition, there is the Tawajod, which is delivered at your doorstep and the Tawajod Xpress service, which is free of cost for people with special needs.

A new branch in new Dubai exclusively for VIP patients will be established by the end of this year, said Al Bustani.

“We have received many requests from customers in new Dubai for VIP medical fitness and in line with this demand we are building an exclusive centre in new Dubai.  Our expansion plans are in line with the demand we witness. This area includes Dubai Marina Discovery Gardens etc.”

Further, in 2015 two new centers located in Mirdiff and Karama will be added to the network dedicated to occupational screenings only.