The Department of Health in Abu Dhabi has announced the closure of four healthcare facilities in the emirate. This action comes as a result of investigations revealing violations of existing laws and regulations. Specifically, these establishments were found to be issuing sick leave certificates to individuals without them actually attending for medical examinations, and were doing so in exchange for payment.
The closure of these four facilities was prompted by their issuance of sick leave certificates in a manner that contravenes the governing laws, decisions, and directives. The process involved communication via WhatsApp, where the facilities requested personal information, such as identity card details, as well as health information like height and weight. Following this, the facilities provided their bank account details to the individuals seeking leave, requiring a transfer of 100 dirhams for each day of leave. Notably, these transactions and records were completed without the individuals ever physically visiting the healthcare centers. Subsequently, the centers documented these leaves in the medical files and falsified signatures for treatment approvals without the patient’s presence.
This operation was coordinated among the four centers with specific individuals managing the issuance of these sick leaves. The Department issued the closure decision due to actions that could constitute criminal and disciplinary offenses under the law.