People coming to the UAE to live for the first time will undergo mandatory checks for HIV/Aids following a decision by Minister of Health Humaid Mohammed Al Quttami.
The new rules, announced yesterday, also stipulate that people applying for residency – either for employment or study – will undergo tests for hepatitis in two stages.
The first covers one year and includes a hepatitis test for all newcomers. And upon renewal of residency, it will only apply to six types of worker – nannies, housemaids, private drivers, nursery and kindergarten supervisors, barber shop staff, beauty salons and health clubs workers, and cooks, butchers and restaurant staff. In the second stage, procedures are set in the light of results of the first stage.
Also a tuberculosis test will be carried out for people coming to the country for the first time. The same applies to syphilis when applying for residency for the first time. Positive cases shall be considered medically fit for residency provided that the required treatment is given, officials said.
A medical test shall be carried out for people coming for work, study or residency for the first time or upon renewal. And positive cases are deported in accordance with rules in force. People coming into the country with residence permit of at least six months shall be tested.
The minister said the medical test shall be confined to the preventive medicine departments of the Ministry of Health as well as Abu Dhabi Health Authority and Dubai Health Authority.
The decision stressed non-violation of measures and precautions set by Federal Law 27 of 1981 on protection against communicable diseases among others.