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Civic bodies inaction costs over 45 health inspectors their jobs

DUBAI — The Ministry of Health has terminated the services of more than 45 health inspectors at the Civic services authorities in Umm Al Quwain, Ras Al Khaimah and other emirates.

The fired inspectors are considered by the Ministry of Finance to be included in and part of the budget of the ministry of Health, but they are practically appointed for work at the municipalities, which benefit from their services.

They have been appointed according to a Cabinet resolution since nearly more than 15 years, when a decision was issued transferring health control section of the Ministry of Health to the Municipalities.

The position remained as it was until the expatriate inspectors were surprised when they received letters terminating their services with effect from the forthcoming July, and the UAE nationals are requested to return to work at the health Ministry.

All officials at the Ministry have declined to comment on the surprise decision, while a senior official, who spoke on condition of anonymity described it as sound and appropriate." The decision should have been taken years ago", he said adding that the nature of the inspectors' job in keeping a watch on the health and hygiene of markers and environment or both does not fall within the jurisdiction of the Health Ministry, and certain government agencies are concerned over the matter, he said adding that how come the Ministry bear their expenses and pay their salaries, while it is in need of their scales to be filled in with posts that concern the human health.

The senior official went on to say that we had asked the municipalities to transfer them permanently to it and pay their wages from its set budget as long as it is the beneficiary, but we did not receive any reply, therefore we were obliged to terminate their services so as to benefit from their scales.

Meanwhile, Sultan Rashid Al Kharji the Assistant Undersecretary of the Ministry of Health , and Director of Umm Al Quwain medical district said the sacked inspectors, who are affiliated to the health Control department were appointed to work with the Municipalities following a decision of the cabinet. The position remained unchanged until a decision was issued recently by the Ministerial council calling for the settlement of status of hundreds of civil servants who were drawing salaries from ministries where their names are only listed with it by they were not reporting for duty with the same, he said. These ministries included the Ministry of Health.

The decision gave the inspectors the option to either join the municipalities and be listed under its budget and payroll or their services will be terminated, Al Kharji said.

The salaries of those inspectors had been actually included in the 2006 budget last January, and the ministry will not be affected whatsoever after it had been patient over the past years, it will wait until the end of this year and will coordinate with the municipalities regarding the transfer of those inspectors to them or they will be sacked.

But the decision had taken both the ministry and the municipalities by surprise, he noted .

This will create a disruption and chaos especially that eight of them work in Umm Al Quwain, the least number, but there are 20 inspectors in Ras al Khaimah. Appointing them in other government bodies or delegating them to work elsewhere needs time, he added.