The UAE Government has approved fresh regulations that specify penalties up to Dh.1 million to regulate the healthcare profession.
Individuals who practice the profession without a license or submit fake documents, will be imprisoned, attracting fines in the range Dh.50,000 to Dh.100,000. Further, the healthcare facility will be shut down if it is being operated by a single person.
The law regulates the practice of non-doctors and pharmacists for several healthcare professions including those in laboratories, functional therapy, medical physics, physiotherapy, aesthetics, audiology, anaesthesia and radiology.
The law emphasizes on the following:
- The law stipulates that no one can practice as a health professional unless they are authorised to do so. In order to obtain licence, one should have a bachelor’s degree or a health profession qualification recognized in the country. Further, the professionals should hold good conduct, and be medically fit to perform their duties.
- A National Medical Register would be set up for licensed healthcare professionals in the country at the Ministry of Health and Prevention. All health authorities will have to create their own registers and link it to the national one.
- Healthcare professionals are prohibited from selling or promoting medicines or samples to patients. They also should not direct the patients to purchase medicines from any particular pharmacy.
- A fine in the range of Dh.10,000 to Dh.100,000 will be slapped on a person who practices the profession without a licence, although he meets the conditions that allow him to obtain one.
- The Director / Manager of a healthcare facility violating the provisions of the law will be fined between Dh.1000 and Dh.500,000, apart from temporary suspension of their medical licence.
- Any facility found violating the provisions of the law will be fined Dh.1000 to Dh.1million, and will be temporarily / permanently closed, depending on the extent of violation committed.
- The law amendments also include updating the duration of expertise required for licensing of Emirati veterinarians and recent graduates to pursue the profession. Veterinarians and assisted medical professionals are exempted from certain fees.
- As part of the amendment, foreign entrepreneurs and investors can establish and own veterinary facilities to improve foreign investments. The Ministry of Climate Change and Environment has established a national register for veterinarians, assistants and practitioners authorized to practice in the country.
Amendments also include allowing foreign entrepreneurs and investors to establish and own veterinary facilities, in order to enhance foreign investments. The Ministry of Climate Change and Environment has established a national register for veterinarians, practitioners and assistants authorised to practice in the country.
