New medical test rule for Lankans, Indonesians

The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries announced on Wednesday that Indonesian and Sri Lankan nationals coming to the region on employment visas must get medical tests in their home countries and also have them attested by GCC embassies based in the two countries.

The medical test implementation will begin from October 1, 2011, at the government-run medical centres and hospitals in Sri Lanka and Indonesia.

This was announced in Dubai at a press conference which was attended by officials from health, interior, foreign and labour ministries.

However, the medical test conducted in the UAE by the newcomer prior to visa stamping will remain place.

The move is intended at achieving local health security concerning infectious diseases and elimination of certain diseases in some countries.

The officials said that 11 more countries might be added to the current list of two countries where people coming on employment visas have to undergo medical tests in their home countries and also get them attested by Gulf embassies or consulates therein. The officials said that 11 names are not finalised as yet.

The health ministry officials highlighted that there has been a steady increase of tuberculosis-affected cases among people coming here on employment visa. Therefore, it called for applying the medical test programme in the country of origin.

The results of epidemiological studies which were conducted by Abu Dhabi-based HAAD proved that this increase is consistent with the findings of the World Health Organization which indicated higher number of tuberculosis cases and drug resistance diseases, especially in Asia.

The UAE’s Ministry of Health said it would make great efforts to ensure that all newcomers and residents in the UAE are free from diseases which cause dangers to the public health.

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