'Always open' medical centre for Dubai residents

The Dubai Health Authority (DHA) has revised the opening times of its medical fitness centres in Dubai, revealing details during its weekly Twitter clinic.

There are currently 16 medical fitness centres in Dubai; with the new opening timings, the first round-the clock centre has been established for residents.

“The Al Muhaisnah medical fitness centre now functions round-the-clock, seven days a week, for the convenience of customers,” said Maisa Al Bustani, director of medical fitness at the DHA.

Al Muhaisnah centre accepts all categories of clients, provides all types of medical fitness services including express and VIP services.

On Fridays and Saturdays, the centre provides only visa renewal services, while catering to all medical fitness services during the week.

Apart from the round-the-clock centre, the medical fitness centre in Al Quoz is now opening its doors until evening hours to accommodate all categories of clients.

During the week it will be open from 7:30am until 9pm.

On weekends the centre is closed.

Centres for household staff

While the centres mentioned provide services to all applicants, the DHA runs a couple of centres with services dedicated to specific groups.

Al Mankhool , Al Twar, Al Khawaneej, Al Bada’a and Al Lusaily medical fitness centres are dedicated venues for household domestic employees of the catchment area.

Household domestic employees include cooks, cleaners, gardeners, nannies, nurses and drivers.

Al Bustani explained: “Mandatory screening for housemaids includes Hepatitis B, HIV, TB, Syphilis and pregnancy tests. 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 centres are open from 7:30am until 2:30pm during weekdays. On weekends they are closed.

Al Karama centre

The Al Karama medical fitness centre is open to all categories, although it also functions as an express medical centre with a dedicated wing to provide services for people who need pre-employment medical certificates and occupational certificates for specialised jobs.

“In addition to the mandatory medical fitness screening that is required for all expats in the UAE, certain professions require mandatory additional medical screening,” explained Al Bustani.

Occupational screening is needed for professions such as heavy truck drivers, civil defence professionals, people working in the food industry etc.

Al Karama medical centre is open from 7:30am till 2:30pm on weekdays, and closed during the weekends.

Occupational screening can also be done at Al Muhaisnah medical centre.

Other centres

The following centres are open from 8am until 3pm:

-The medical fitness centre at Jabel Ali Free Zone Authority(JAFZA) for JAZFA’s clients and employees

-Emirates Airline medical fitness centre for Emirates Airlines employees

-Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) medical fitness centre for DIFC clients

The following centres are open from 8am until 2.30pm:

-The Airport medical fitness centre  for Dubai International Airport staff

-Al Safa medical fitness centre for executive employees

-DAFZA medical fitness centre for DAFZA clients and staff

-Dubai Silicon Oasis Authority (SOA) medical fitness centre for  SOA clients and staff

-Knowledge Village Medical Fitness Centre for Tecom employees, university students and executive employees

-Al Rashidiya medical fitness centre for females only

A regular medical fitness test costs Dh260, but it is possible to seed up the process at an extra charge.

To get the medical tests with results within 48 hours one pays Dh370, and for Dh470 the results will be provided within 24-hours.

The results can be received within four hours for Dh690. 

During the first half of 2014 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.

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