DOHA: The Medical Commission has given initial approval to some companies to conduct the mandatory medical check- up for their employees in their premises provided they strictly meet the requirements, a senior official of the Commission said yesterday.
The Commission has already signed a contract with the state-backed public transport company, Mowasalat, in this regard, its Director Dr Ibrahim Al Shaar said. “Some leading companies and establishments had approached us seeking permission to conduct the medical check up on their own for their employees. We have no objection if they provide all the required facilities and if the tests are conducted under our monitoring. We have given them initial approval,” Al Shaar told this daily last evening.
“However, we have signed an agreement only with one company until now — Mowasalat — which is currently working to set up a facility at its premises,” he added. He pointed out that it would not be easy for companies to provide this service since it involves elaborate tests for infectious diseases such as HIV/Aids, Tuberculosis and Hepatitis B and C.
The official said the Medical Commission currently receives an average 3,000 visitors daily, majority of whom are newly recruited foreign workers.
The Commission saw a total of 647,000 visitors this year until the end of September, a local Arabic daily reported yesterday quoting Al Shaar. The number of visitors has almost doubled after the Commission introduced evening shifts a few months ago.
“ There were days when we handled as high as 3,500 visitors on a single day,” said Al Shaar.
He said delays and crowding at the Commission have been felt at the workers’ section and the companies themselves are responsible for this to a great extent.
The companies are required to register online for tests of their employees but some companies are not doing that. Sometimes they fail to stick to the appointments and this is also creating confusion, said Al Shaar.
There are instances when companies are fined by the authorities for delaying the residence permit procedures, including the mandatory medical check up of their newly recruited workers. “We will take responsibility if the delays are caused by the Medical Commission,” said the official.
He said the Commission is working on a project to open 10 satellite centers across the country over the next few years.
A new unit at the Industrial Area, targeting single workers is ready for opening next month. The facility which can accommodate 400 visitors will function in a separate building attached to the workers’ clinic in the locality.
Another unit of the Medical Commission , with a capacity of 500 visitors, is expected to be open in Mesaimeer next year. There is a plan to set up Medical Commission branches at the three hospitals and primary health centers that are being built exclusively for expatriate workers, said Al Shaar.
He said the X-ray and laboratory equipment at the Medical Commission are being upgraded to make the tests faster and more accurate. Advanced air purifying machines have been installed at various sections to prevent the spread of diseases among visitors.
The Peninsula
