DHA, GDRFA discuss medical tourism visa procedures
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In a move to streamline the medical tourism initiative, the Dubai Health Authority (DHA) and General Directorate of Residence and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA) recently held a meeting with private sector hospitals at the DHA headquarters. 
The meeting was aimed at providing private sector with information on how to apply for a medical tourism visa for their overseas patients who are keen to utilize health facilities in the Emirate.
Engineer Essa Al Haj Al Maidour, director-general of the Dubai Health Authority, said: “We are working with all relevant stakeholders to streamline the medical tourism initiative. Unification of policies and processes will ensure smooth functioning of a dynamic health sector and will benefit both medical tourists as well as healthcare providers.”
The DHA and GDRFA have designed a process for hospitals to comply with.
Adding further Laila Al Jassmi, CEO of Health Policy and Strategy at the DHA said: “Hospitals will have to request for a ‘treatment visa service quota’ from the DHA. This will be applicable for those hospitals who intend to cater to medical tourists. The DHA will approve this quota and the hospital will be able to apply for only those number of medical tourism visas as stipulated in the quota. This is to ensure hospitals are not over or under utilize their services and it also protects medical tourist.”
She said that this is a one-time requirement and hospitals need to reapply only if they expand their capacity.
