All licensed recruitment agencies deploying Filipino workers to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) are reminded to require their workers to undergo complete pre-employment medical examination to minimize medical expenses while on-site.

The reminder is being issued in view of the following recent regulations by the UAE Ministry of Health:

1.  Effective 01 May 2001, government clinics and hospitals will no longer dispense free or subsidized medicines to expatriate patients.  They are to be referred instead to private pharmacies.

2.  Effective 01 April 2001, non-UAE patients who are in the country on visit visas, and resident expatriates without health cards, or those holding expired health cards, are required to pay hospital fees including cost of room and surgical operations.

Affected greatly by the directive are expatriate workers from the low-income group, particularly domestic helpers, drivers, cleaners, maintenance staff and related skills.  Others who are also likely to be affected are family members of expatriates and expatriate residents who are holders of trade-in visas.

For information and guidance.

Adopted: 15 May 2001

(SGD.) ROSALINDA DIMAPiLIS-BALDOZ
Administrator