The Ministry of Health and Prevention (MoHAP) in the United Arab Emirates has announced a significant improvement in the digitization of services related to the issuance and attestation of sick leave and medical reports for residents.

This initiative is part of the UAE's Zero Government Bureaucracy Programme, aimed at reducing administrative burden, minimizing waiting times, and enhancing the overall user experience through advanced smart platforms.

Now, patients can attest their sick leave documents more rapidly using a newly enhanced online system, accessible through MoHAP's official website or mobile application.

The service comes at a fee of 50 UAE Dirhams.

According to MoHAP, the initiative focuses on increasing efficiency, shortening transaction durations, and ultimately boosting customer satisfaction.

The updated service provides comprehensive digital access, expedited sick leave attestation, simplified approval protocols, and swift committee reviews.

Specific procedures vary based on the duration of the sick leave.

For medical leave requests of five days or less, immediate online attestation is available.

In instances where the leave is issued by a health facility in Sharjah or other northern emirates, attestation occurs at the treating facility.

For sick leave extending between five days and one month, electronic attestation is required, along with fee payment, followed by reviews from a medical sub-committee respective to the issuing emirate.

These committees are tasked with communicating their decisions within one working day.

For leaves exceeding one month, electronic attestation is also mandated, followed by approval from the Higher Medical Committee of MoHAP after evaluation.

Patients are advised that sick leaves issued from private health facilities must come from licensed institutions and requests for attestation should be made within one month from the date of issuance.

In cases where sick leaves have already been attested by recognized health authorities in the UAE, further attestation by MoHAP is unnecessary.

Medical documents from abroad require initial certification by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, followed by endorsement from MoHAP, before being reviewed by the appropriate medical committee.

Key documentation for the attestation process includes a sick leave certificate and medical report for leaves over five days, while sick leave documents for escort leaves must also provide proof of relationship along with the required certificates.

Abdullah Ahli, Acting Assistant Undersecretary for Support Services Sector, emphasized the ministry's commitment to enhancing customer experience through this new service.

He stated that the aim is to eliminate bureaucratic complexities and implement an efficient, user-friendly system that ensures reliable medical decisions.

Amal Al Marzooqi, Director of the Customer Happiness Department, further remarked on the system’s design, which prioritizes flexibility, speed, and transparency.

She detailed that the ultimate goal is to bolster customer confidence in the healthcare framework while continuously refining user experiences and adapting service delivery to align with both current and future needs.