Procedures and formalities for health fitness check-ups will be unified in Sharjah to help reduce crowds at the Municipality Clinic in Al Buteena area, revealed Dr Aisha Al Roomi, Director of the Preventive Medicine Department of Sharjah Medical District.
She said the crowds at the clinic had prompted officials at the two authorities to unify procedures.
In Sharjah, the health fitness certificates for new visas as well as renewals are provided by both the Medical District at the Preventive Medicine Department in Al Ghubaiba area, and by Sharjah Municipality's Clinic in Al Buteena area.
The Municipality Clinic has fewer documentation requirements, and this has prompted expatriates to seek a health fitness certificate from there.
"It is this that has prompted crowds at this clinic, imposing added strain on the clinic's resources," she explained. "The clinic already has arrangements between the Municipality and the other local departments to have their employees tested at the clinic."
The official added the issue would be discussed with the clinic's officials very soon. "These will be aimed at unifying the necessary documentation, in accordance with the requirements of the Ministry of Health," she added.
The ministry requires the health card or the health insurance of the applicant to be valid for at least one month. The applicant should submit a copy of valid trade licence of the employer, as well as a no objection certificate from the employer, she said.
The official noted that about 350 workers are tested everyday at the department's clinic. This number does not cause crowds as the clinic operates in morning and evening shifts.
Since moving from its old location near the fire station at Al Buteena area to the department at Al Ghubaiba, the crowding is less despite the numbers of clients on a day being the same, Dr Aisha said.
"This is because the new premises allows easy and smooth flow of the applicants undergoing the various health tests," she said.
Following the directions of Sheikh Mohammed bin Saqr Al Qasimi, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Health and Director of Sharjah Medical District, the Preventive Medi-cine Department is focusing efforts to provide quality service and to facilitate matters for the public, she said.
The clinic's new premises house eight counters where the applicant has the documents checked and fed into the computer's database. "If there are any documents missing, he or she can easily step out of the premises without causing any crowding," she said.
Applicants with complete papers go from the clinical check, to another room for the blood test, and then for the X-ray test. Separate halls and medical staff are provided for women at each step, she noted.
"The time needed by each applicant to finish the entire process right up to obtaining the health fitness certificate has been reduced as well, after the computerisation of the work process and the implementation of the smart form system some two months ago," she noted.
She added that companies and typing offices have been provided with the pre-paid smart form system, and applicants with complete documents do not need to move from one counter to another for submitting documents and paying fees.
Meanwhile, the department is working to reduce the time needed to issue a health fitness certificate from one week currently to three days.
"The delay in issuing the health fitness certificate could be one of the reasons that prompt expatriate workers and employees to seek the test at the Municipality Clinic," she admitted.
Gulf News 2003
