DOHA: The number of visitors at the Medical Commission has increased by 70 to 80 percent daily after it introduced evening shifts in November last year, a senior official said yesterday.
The facility that conducts the mandatory medical check up for newly recruited foreign workers and other newcomers currently works from 7am to 8pm continuously.
“Earlier we used to get about 1,700 visitors daily. After we started the evening shifts, we have been getting from 2,500 to 3,000 visitors every day,” Dr Ibrahim Al Shaar, Director of the Medical Commission told The Peninsula yesterday.
The Medical Commission until now this year has screened about 600,000 foreigners, including newly recruited workers, families and visitors, he added.
“We are still witnessing a huge influx of newly recruited foreign workers,” said Al Shaar, adding that the facility was able to manage the rush, with the extended working hours and an increase in the number of staff.
He said the Commission has seen a steady decline in illnesses detected during the examinations, after health check up in home countries for job seekers from several Asian and African countries was made mandatory early this year.
Newly recruited workers from 11 Asian and African countries are required to undergo the check up in home countries before their departure to Qatar.
The rule was introduced in February this year. The Medical Commission conducts a second check up after the workers arrive in Qatar.
“Over the past few months, we have seen a decline in serious illnesses detected among newly recruited workers, as a result of the check ups in home countries,” said Al Shaar.
He, however, added that home country checks up is still not fully implemented in all the countries included in the scheme.
The rule applies to job seekers from India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bangladesh, Indonesia, Philippines, Egypt, Sudan, Ethiopia, Syria and Eritrea.
The system that was in vogue several years ago was reintroduced as a precaution against the spread of contagious diseases in the country, with a rapid increase in the number of foreigners being recruited to work here.
The tests focus mainly on HIV/Aids, Tuberculosis, Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C.
The Peninsula
