Doctors divided over Hepatitis deportation |
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Monday, Dec 01, 2008
Gulf News
Dubai: Health officials are divided over whether a person with an infectious liver disease should be deported under the UAE law.
Some say carriers of Hepatitis B deserve to remain and be treated while others say deportation protects the population.
The UAE made Hepatitis B a "deportable disease" from July this year, requiring all expatriates seeking new employment and residence visa to be free of the blood-borne virus.
Other ailments inviting deportation are HIV/Aids and tuberculosis, but with a difference: any expatriate who test positive for either disease at any time will be automatically deported.
UAE nationals, who test positive for any of these diseases are treated, although some may be barred from working depending on the disease.
Speaking to Gulf News after the launch of an awareness campaign on Hepatitis B, officials of the Health Authority of Abu DhabiHealth Authority of Abu Dhabi
disagreed over the necessity of the UAE immigration laws pertaining to Hepatitis B.
Dr Mazen Taha, gastroenterology and hepatology consultant at Tawam Hospital in Al Ain, told Gulf News that encouraging people to test for the disease was important to prevent its spread. But the new law discourages testing.
Medicines
"The law will drive the disease underground [for fear of testing and losing their livelihood]. If people don't get tested, the disease will spread," he said.
"There should be a change in immigration and health laws on different infectious grades. If they are not infectious [by receiving treatment], they should be allowed to work and stay in the country," he added.
He said effective medicines were available to delay or prevent complications. Anti-Hepatitis B medication costs about Dh3,000 monthly.
However, Dr Salem Awad Sabih, gastroenterology and hepatology consultant at Mafraq Hospital in Abu Dhabi, disagreed, saying it was too risky to allow hepatits B carriers to remain in the UAE.
"How can [one] be sure their viral load is low [thus non-infectious]?" he said.
"I agree with the deportation law because it is the right to do. We have a right to protect the country. I would like this country to be free of the disease," he added. He said fear of deportation and losing their livelihood should not prevent anyone from getting themselves tested as doing so would protect themselves, their family and their community.
© Gulf News 2008. All rights reserved.
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I think for Hepatitis B carriers but not infectious, with good liver functions it is fare to let them stay in UAE. I do not think it is solving the problem by deporting this people because Hepatitis B has vaccine and it is available in any hospital so I think if minister of health would force people who is not infected till today to visit clinic and get his/her vaccination for HepB than in this case no one will no longer be infected and whoever is infected will be infected for his own. It is so strange and somehow against the law of deporting HepB while ministry is deporting people who is getting new visa by checking HepB and at the same time letting people to stay and spread the virus for years and years who luckily got his residency 5 or 10 years ago and now just need to renew it because if you wanna renew your visa they just make HIV test and NO HepB and anything else. Is in not it stupid Law? Because I know a lot of people with HepB and C working in UAE and just renewing their visa every 3 years heh. [Report Abuse | Email to a Friend | Reply to this Comment]
What happened finally? Didi you get the visa/ Are you runnign the business now? Are they checking hbsag for the renewal?
please help [Report Abuse | Email to a Friend | Reply to this Comment]
Faith
In this case, it is a new visa application, not a renewal. If you are getting a JAFZA visa, maybe I could get you some help. Write to me on amiteejain@gmail.com. [Report Abuse | Email to a Friend | Reply to this Comment]
prime medical center is no longer accepting medical test..i called them and the staff said they stop doing it..and now only govt hospital [Report Abuse | Email to a Friend | Reply to this Comment]
thank you AJ ,Manikanta,
still im scared ..do you consider my case renewal bec my husband resigned and found a new job in jebel ali feezone...so we are cancelled and again he will apply visa for me under husband sponsorship again.....so you call this renewal ? he works before in fujairah and now in jebel ali....is that renewal or new visa application case?? [Report Abuse | Email to a Friend | Reply to this Comment]
Hi Faith,
Since yours too is a visa renewal, not new visa issuance, you or your husband wont have any problem. like I said this problem is only for new visas issuance. In case of renewal, they wont test you for HBsAG.
Cheers [Report Abuse | Email to a Friend | Reply to this Comment]
Hi Manikanta
Since yours is a visa renewal, you wont have any problem. It is only with new visas that they are testing for HBsAG.
Cheers [Report Abuse | Email to a Friend | Reply to this Comment]
aj, feel sorry but we dont have a power they us infected as virus as a whole......its really unfair..ive been living aslo in dubai since 2001 and just knew i am hbsag positive last 2007...i am currently under my husbands sponsorship and due for renewal....pls advise can i still renew my husbands visa??? [Report Abuse | Email to a Friend | Reply to this Comment]
what's the latest update on this issue? [Report Abuse | Email to a Friend | Reply to this Comment]
Hi, Me from india I came U.A.E on feb 2006. When I came from my country i tested my blood hbs ag postive they suggested me this not problem for urs visa immigration then i came here after here blood test nothing happen I don't know about that result becoz my compay done. this month my visa renwel can proced other wise what can I do plz suggest me any body [Report Abuse | Email to a Friend | Reply to this Comment]
Please contact PMC in deira. If your visa is Employment/I i.e. it is not concened by labor department but by immigration they are authorised to do it and they dont test HBsAg. Also free zone hospitals in dubai dont do it as per my info. i beleive u should be able to get around.
keep updated. I am moving out of country soon. will try to come once there is a solution for me. [Report Abuse | Email to a Friend | Reply to this Comment]
AA,
I am meeting a senior official today to discuss my case further in Baraha Hospital.
I am not so sure about what you say though for testing in PMC, since it is common knowledge now that medical testing for visa is done at only one centre now in Sonapur. Further, as understood from officials in the free zone, this rule applies to all kinds of visas, including investor visa.
Will update tis page further after meeting with the doctore today. [Report Abuse | Email to a Friend | Reply to this Comment]
AJ,
you have a solution. You can get a investor visa or partner visa, as you want to work on your own. These visa are still being allowed for private medical centres. like prime medical centre in deira.
My medical case is similiar to you but i need a job which reqquires a normal employment visa, as my last company fired me owing to the recession, so cant get the investor or partner visa.
and what is update though the doctors you are in contact. when they expect this ban to be removed. [Report Abuse | Email to a Friend | Reply to this Comment]
Dubai has now stopped medical tests from any private or government hospital. It is only done at one centre now in Al Muhaisna (Sonapur), and they conduct HepB testing as compulsory.
I got myself tested for the core antigen & envelope antigen - got negative results, which means the virus is gone, and I am no longer infectious. Viral load is almost zero. BUT - surface anitgen is positive, which means the anti-bodies that my blood developed to kill the virus, have remained - of course they are completely harmless. Authorities test for HBsAG, and not HBeAG or HBcAG, so I am still screwed.
BTW - It feel it is better we communicate via this page. [Report Abuse | Email to a Friend | Reply to this Comment]
AJ,
I feel it is more strict in Abu Dhabi than in dubai as some laboratories in dubai still dont conduct the hepatitis B test as per my enquiry. Kindly contact ashish.iitd@gmail.com to discuss in detail. [Report Abuse | Email to a Friend | Reply to this Comment]
Unfortunately no concrete solution yet.
I have been in touch with a few medical heads in Abu Dhabi & Dubai. The suggestion I have so far from them is to stay quiet & patient for sometime since they very strongly feel that this issue will be resolved very soon by the ministry.
Problem is - soon has no clear definition [Report Abuse | Email to a Friend | Reply to this Comment]
[Report Abuse | Email to a Friend | Reply to this Comment]
Hi AJ,
Did you find any solution for the same problem. I think i might have same problem as yours. Please contact ashish.iitd@gmail.com [Report Abuse | Email to a Friend | Reply to this Comment]
Well after reading the article and the comments of Dr Sabih I feel that it not fair to deport people if they test positive for Hepatitis.. esp. for the purpose of keeping the country free of disease. What do they do about the UAE nationals who have AIDS/HIV, Hepatatitis.. if they treat them isn't there a chance for the infections to spread through them? If they deport expatriates they should start deporting their own citizens also just for the sole purpose of ridding the country of any disease.. maybe next on the list could be the 'prostitutes' who are available at most clubs in Dubai 'coz aren't they potential 'donors' of STDs and HIV.. after living in Dubai for over 20 years I can truthfully say most of the actions taken are hypocritical.. [Report Abuse | Email to a Friend | Reply to this Comment]
HI AJ, Any good news for you? [Report Abuse | Email to a Friend | Reply to this Comment]
I first came to Dubai in September 2003. I have been working & living with my wife in Dubai ever since. And these last 5 years have been fabulous in terms of personal growth & happiness. I was able to buy my own house here in Dubai.
After 5 long years, I have now the opportunity to be my own boss. I have started my own company in the RAK Free Zone. But this wasn't done overnight. I resigned from my last job in July 2008, and got my employment visa cancelled contemplating a fresh start & new beginning. I also took a months vacation to fly to India & Hongkong. On my return to Dubai, I initiated the process of my company with preliminary research, and landed my feet in RAK as the most viable option for my business.
I flew in on a visit visa to complete all formalities with RAKFZ, made the payments as instructed and obtained my Trade License. Next step - to apply for my residence permit. I could have never imagined that I'd have to go through what I am. While submitting my papers for the visa, I got to learn that medical tests include Hepatitis B (HBsAG) as mandatory for everyone applying for a new residence permit, and that it is now a deportable disease for anybody who has it, not just the 6 specific categories. The same apparently doesn't apply for visa renewals.
I acquired the virus a couple of years ago during my stay in Dubai (don't know how) and was seeking a treatment very soon. And a condition I have acquired, for no fault of mine, has been made a reason for me not to be able to live in Dubai. I hear imminent doctors clearly voicing their opinion against this new law.
I am not able to understand how the UAE goverment is willing to ignore my case where -
1. I have been working & living in Dubai for over 5 years
2. I own properties in UAE
3. I own my company in the RAK Free Zone
4. I lead a clean & healthy family life with my wife
5. I took a residence visa break of only 5 months between my last employment and now
I wonder now if my case can in anyway be looked at as renewal case by the authorities. [Report Abuse | Email to a Friend | Reply to this Comment]
i agree with Dr.Mazen T that fear of deportation will send the disease underground.....
Being a doctor, I interpret Dr Salem A S comments as very very naive and childish.... If every country adopts your view of "I would like this country to be free of the disease", guess what's going to happen......cmon Dr Salem, you can be better than this and get off being bookish and try to be practical.
UAE immigration laws needs amendment to this...instead of deportation, begin treatment [Report Abuse | Email to a Friend | Reply to this Comment]
Hi, got hep b by birth through my mum and i come every 3 months to Abu Dhabi for check up am not infectious my doctor says and my hep b e ag is non detectable.am due for my next doc visit next month. my question is does it mean i cant come anymore into the country, i have been coming for over 6 yrs now and end of next year my father is moving there does it mean i wont be issued a vise please answer me.am the only one in the family of 3 with hep b and i have 2 children who dont have. [Report Abuse | Email to a Friend | Reply to this Comment]