Medical fitness certificate on same day likely

The move comes as part of the Ministry of Health's programme to evaluate the medical check-ups the foreign labour force need to undergo in order to obtain a visa.

At present medical fitness certificate takes about four days before being issued.

"We have discussed the possibilities of accelerating the process of issuing medical fitness certificate required by foreign labour force as well as the means to carry out the required tests and get the results within the same day," said Dr Mahmoud Fekri, Assistant Under-Secretary of the Preventive Medicine Department.

"The deportation procedures, kinds of medical check-ups required for different categories, the facilities authorised to carry out the medical tests and reporting methods have also been discussed in a step to develop medical check-up programme for foreign labour force," said Dr Fekri.

The official's statement came yesterday following a meeting for the preventive medicine departments directors in the country and representatives from the General Authority for Health Services for the Emirate of Abu Dhabi (GAHS) and Dubai Health Department at the ministry's premises.

Dr Fekri said updating the procedures and testing techniques in dealing with HIV/AIDS positive cases have also been tabled during the meeting. He said obstacles facing anti-tuberculosis programme have been discussed to ensure compliance of the undertaken efforts with the instructions of the World Health Organisation. He said the conferees have recommended the importance of securing TB and hepatitis vaccine for newborns at both the public and private hospitals.