DUBAI - Expatriates renewing their residence visas in Dubai will have to shell out an extra Dh300 for the health card that is now compulsory.
Delayed by five months, the
rule caught many unawares when it came into effect unannounced on December 1.
Residents now have to pay a total of Dh550 instead of the Dh250 charged for the
medical fitness test only earlier. Before a residence visa is stamped/renewed,
applicants have to undergo screening for diseases such as HIV, Hepatitis B & C,
tuberculosis and syphilis.
Though a person applying for
residency in the UAE for the first time has to obtain a health card, renewing it
had not been compulsory until now.
Khaleej Times
had reported on July 1 about the new medical fitness rules that were due to come
into effect immediately but were put off by the Department of Health and Medical
Services until the year end. A health card (valid for one year) was also made
compulsory for renewing visas but the date when it would come into effect was
not announced.
(The health card holder can
avail of basic health services at low cost only in government hospitals and
clinics.)
As per the new rules, health
insurance policyholders do not require a health card, though the policy
certificate has to be attested by Dohms at a cost of Dh200.
Maisa Al Bustani, Head of
Medical Fitness Centre at Dohms, had explained to Khaleej Times earlier,
“If the resident does not hold a health card and has a valid health insurance
policy, Department of Health and Medical Services will charge Dh200 to attest
the policy certificate before the screening is done.”
However, residents who have
valid insurance policy said they were forced to pay for the health card when
they went for visa renewal.
“When I recently went for my
medical fitness test, a requirement for visa renewal, I was asked to pay Dh300
for a health card.
“When I explained to the
official that I was holding a health insurance policy, he insisted that I still
had to pay for the card,” said Mohammed Afzal, a sales manager.
Farid Hussain, another
resident, said that when he informed the official about his insurance policy,
the official said it was not his concern.
“I had to pay for the card
despite holding a policy,” he added.
Department of Health and
Medical Services officials were not available for comments because of holidays.