19 April 2015
UAE - The Medical Fitness Department of the Dubai Health Authority(DHA) announced today the number of medical fitness tests conducted during the first quarter of this year.

Maisa Al Bustani, Director of Medical Fitness at the DHA said: " The medical fitness department at the DHA conducted a total of 496,721 medical fitness procedures of which 206,770 fitness tests were for issuance of new visas and the remaining 289,951were for renewal of visas."

Medical Fitness is a mandatory requirement for all expats in the UAE. It is required for a residency, employment or education visa.

The DHA has 16 medical fitness centres located across different parts of the emirate for issuance and renewal of medical fitness tests.

Al Bustani added that of the total 496,721 procedures, 27,875 people opted for the four-hour VIP service, 22550 people opted for the 24 hour express result option and 93,549 opted for the 48 hour option.

In terms of the Tawajod( at your doorstep) service, Al Bustani said 4,574opted for it and 12 people opted for the Tawajod express service.  This service is free of cost for people with special needs and Dh 260 is charged for visa.

Al Bustani said, "In addition to providing such services, we are also expanding our centres. This year, we will establish two medical fitness centres -an occupational screening centre at Mirdiff and a centre at Jumeirah Lake Towers(JLT) that will provide both occupational screening and medical fitness services. Occupational screening  is needed for those people who wish to get a certification according to the requirement of their profession such as a pre-employment certificate for employees working in private and government sector.  It is also required for heavy truck drivers, civil defence professionals, people working in the food industry etc. due to the nature of the job."

Box:

Regular medical fitness test costs: AED 260
Medical tests with results within 48 hours costs: AED 370 
Medical tests with results within 24 hours costs:  AED 470
Medical tests results within four hours costs: AED 690

-Ends-

About the Dubai Health Authority
The Dubai Health Authority (DHA) was created, in June 2007, by Law 13 issued by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE, Ruler of Dubai, with an expanded vision to include strategic oversight for the complete health sector in Dubai and enhance private sector engagement. His Highness Sheikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai and UAE Minister of Finance is the President of the Dubai Health Authority and His Excellency Engineer Essa Al Maidoor is the Director-General of the DHA.

The DHA's aim in Dubai is to provide an accessible, effective and integrated healthcare system, protect public health and improve the quality of life within the Emirate. This is a direct translation of the objectives of the Dubai Strategic Plan 2015 launched by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum. Keeping the strategic plan in mind, the DHA's mission is to ensure access to health services, maintain and improve the quality of these services, improve the health status of nationals, residents and visitors and oversee a dynamic, efficient and innovative health sector.

In addition to overseeing the health sector for the Emirate of Dubai, the DHA also focuses on providing services through DHA healthcare facilities including hospitals (Latifa, Dubai, Rashid and Hatta), specialty centres (e.g. the Dubai Diabetes Center) and DHA primary health centres spread throughout the Emirate of Dubai.

The main pillars of service delivery at DHA health facilities are quality, efficiency, patients and staff.  It is our aim to maintain and improve the quality and efficiency of DHA health services. An important aspect of the service delivery strategy is to focus on patients, their needs and satisfaction as well as attract, retain, nurture and support outstanding staff.

Prior to the establishment of the DHA, the Department of Health and Medical Services (DOHMS), which was established in 1973, was the functioning authority that almost exclusively focused on health service delivery.

© Press Release 2015