UAE to revise medical examination system for expats coming to work and live

His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, issued 9 Cabinet decisions, including amendments to Cabinet Resolution No. 7 of 2008 on expatriates coming to work or work Some regulations of the medical examination system. Residential. These decisions are published in the latest edition of the Official Gazette.

Regarding the physical fitness test, Resolution No. 75 of 2022 amends part of the provisions of Cabinet Resolution No. 7 of 2008 on the medical examination of foreigners working or living.

The decision requires expatriates who come to work or live to decide in advance to undergo a medical examination. The conditions for granting or renewing a residence permit depend on the type of infection and the type of person being tested.

These tests include: HIV tests, which are tested on all types of persons arriving in the UAE when residency is first issued or renewed. Residency will not be issued or renewed for positive cases.

Depending on the circumstances, certain cases may be exempted from the health fitness test as appropriate, at the discretion of the Minister or the head of the health authority.

Viral hepatitis is also being tested for those coming to the country for the first time to work and renew their residency.

This applies to five categories: nannies, domestic servants, nursery and kindergarten supervisors, staff at hairdressers and health clubs, and staff at health facilities.

Residence visas will not be issued or renewed for positive cases unless the purpose of the residence visa is changed within a period not exceeding 30 days from the date of notification of the test results. Three doses of vaccine are administered to all negative cases of new arrivals in the above categories.

As for tuberculosis screening, it is limited to all new arrivals. Cases that prove to be old or active are considered unfit for health and residency is not issued.

All residents are required to be screened for tuberculosis upon renewal, and if they prove they have old or active tuberculosis, the person is considered healthy, but must be followed up by the preventive medicine department. He will then be issued a health certificate that mentions the word “received treatment”, according to which he will only be granted a residence permit for one year, provided he is followed up during that year.

If the patient does not adhere to treatment, he is deemed unfit and the relevant authorities are notified, and his residence will not be updated.

Each member of the diplomatic and consular corps is exempt from the health condition of old and active tuberculosis when they are first granted residency and are considered healthy.

Except for the advice of the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation or his authorized representative.

Relatives of the expatriate resident, husband, wife, children sponsored by him, or sponsored by a study and educational institution in the UAE, and parents who are sponsored by him.

In addition to other categories determined by the competent committee, major investors are also excluded based on the approval of the competent health authority and the advice of the relevant emirate’s economic authority.

Regarding the pregnancy test, the domestic helper must be carried out before issuing a health certificate, and there is no disease. If the pregnancy is confirmed, the employer can choose whether to allow the woman to work or not after the written acknowledgement. the result of the test.

Leprosy testing is also mandatory for new arrivals and when renewing residency. Residency will not be issued or renewed for positive cases in all groups.

As for syphilis testing, it is limited to the above five categories, both for new arrivals and upon renewal, provided that positive cases are treated with the necessary treatment before they are given a health certificate.