(MENAFN- Khaleej Times) Healthcare providers will face harsher punishments and pay hefty monetary fines for hiring unlicensed medical staff under major changes introduced by the UAE's health authorities.
The punishments could include court case referrals, said a senior official from the Ministry of Health while introducing the new federal law on Medical Licensing in Sharjah on Wednesday.
He said at least 40 per cent of the thousands of private healthcare facilities were hiring unlicensed staff.
"The punishments will now be different and harsher," said Dr Amin Al Amiri, Assistant Undersecretary for Medical Practice and Licensing at the ministry. Till now, the ministry had only issued warning letters and closed down facilities for two to six months depending on the type of violation.
The new law would be rolled out soon, said Dr Amiri adding that the session was to familiarise the investors with what to expect. "The new law allows professionals to work in any emirate or the facilities to open branches anywhere even if they have been licensed by another emirate," he added.
The law also calls for professionals and facilities to undertake a mandatory medical malpractice insurance which is also a criterion for licensing.
Dr Amiri warned that a facility could not change its location until and unless the ministry approved it. "This is a punishable offence by law," he said.
The new legislation would also allow a healthcare provider to open a chain of facilities with a single owner and under one licence unlike now where a separate licence is needed.
Increasing the retirement age of healthcare professionals if needed was also discussed. The current retirement age for general practitioners is 60 years and can be renewed until 65 years maximum after a physical examination is conducted to assess the professional's fitness.
"For a GP, the agreed retirement age is 60 years because this proves that for the past 35 years, the doctor had no desire to excel or learn more.
"However, for some specialists, there is no age limit," he added.
Ninety per cent of the major hospitals and big health centres have recruited young, trained and highly educated professionals while small centres have GPs who have been working there for the past 40 years of which some had not even completed the required Continuous Medical Education (CME) hours, said Dr Amiri.
Service fees must have ministry nod
To help reduce treatment bills for long-term patients, health facilities will have to get prices of health services approved by the ministry. "We have received several complaints from patients who have been discharged that they cannot pay since the bill amounts are huge," said Dr Amiri.
"For this reason, we have decided that prices should be approved by us and also shown to the patient," he added. -asmaalizain@khaleejtimes.com
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