Dubai, 17 August 2008: Dubai Municipality has clarified that the medical fitness certificates, issued by the municipality-run clinic in Deira would be accepted by Ministry of Labour once a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed by the municipality with Department of Health and Medical Services, comes into force.

This was stated by Zohoor Al Sabbagh, Director of Public Health Services Department at Dubai Municipality, who explained that as per this MoU, the medical fitness certificates issued by the Dubai Municipality clinic would carry an official logo of DoHMS which would, then, be accepted by the Labour Ministry.

"We had discussed this issue with the DoHMS and the Dubai Health Authority and had signed an MoU in order to facilitate the medical screening process for expatriate employees and labourers. This will, in effect, take some pressure off the health establishments run by DoHMS and was aimed at offering better services for the public," she said.

Al Sabbagh added that during the discussions with DoHMS and DHA, it was agreed that the municipality's E-Clinic Service would be utilised by both parties in order to facilitate the residence permit applications for the expatriates.

Under the E-clinic Service, results of the medical fitness tests for obtaining residence visas and work permits carried out at the Dubai Municipality clinics are directly transferred to the Dubai Naturalisation and Residency Department (DNRD) on the same day.

By use of this paperless service, applicants visiting the Dubai Municipality clinic will have their test results directly transferred to DNRD through an integrated online system.

The Clinic e-service results in huge time savings for the applicants as well as government departments, leading to more efficiency in processing of visa applications. The e-service will also reduce costs by eliminating the need for printing of medical reports and x-rays films.

-Ends-

For further information:
Thajudeen V. Aliar
Journalist, Media Section,
 Corporate Marketing & Relations Dept.,
Dubai Municipality
+971 4 2064609
+971 4 2232188
+971 50 5881278   
tvaliar@dm.gov.ae

© Press Release 2008