Two more health exam centres to open in Dubai

The Dubai Health Authority will open two examination centres at Rashidiya and Al Quoz early next year to conduct medical fitness tests, increasing the number of affiliated clinics to 16 as it raises capacity.

DUBAI // The Dubai Health Authority (DHA) will open two examination centres at Rashidiya and Al Quoz early next year to conduct medical fitness tests, increasing the number of affiliated clinics to 16 as it raises capacity.

The DHA catered to more than 626,000 patients at partner medical centres across the emirate this year until the end of November, a number that should rise as the new centres became available, said Khaled Mubarak, the authority's deputy director general.

The Rashidiya facility will examine families and household servants, while the one at Al Quoz will provide fitness checks for workers.

"We hope to expand further in 2011 and to continue delivering the services that the community needs," Mr Mubarak said.

Centres such as those in Muhaisna and Satwa close only on Fridays, and the Muhaisna location can handle 4,000 people a day. No figures were provided on the maximum patient loads for the new centres.

With regard to the recent transfer of services from the Dubai Municipality clinic to the DHA, Mr Mubarak said that the Ministry of Labour, Ministry of Interior and the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs would continue to accept requests for medical fitness checks - which are required for residence visas - issued by the municipality until the end of the year.

He said the relationship between government departments was one of co-operation, as they were meant to compliment each other. "This decision has been carefully studied by both parties, as well as the Government, and the foundations are in place for us to absorb those numbers."

The transfer of services was based on a ministerial decree issued in 2008. The municipality would continue to perform occupational health tests at the centre, and it would also focus on education, said Salah al Amiri, the assistant director general for environment and public health services. "There will not be a duplication in services."

Visitors can apply and pay for their medical fitness tests on the DHA website. Some companies can opt for accounts that allow employees to process their application without paying the fee. The final amount can be settled at the end of every month.