The UAE government has announced a number of federal laws for healthcare professionals, aimed at regulating their practice in the country, as well as establishing a national medical register.
The government also approved the laws on private health facilities and veterinary medicine. The laws will also place harsh penalties on those who practice in the UAE without a licence.
The new laws highlight the following:
- Regulating the practice of healthcare professions, including: nursing, medical laboratories, medical physics, functional therapy, physiotherapy, aesthetics, anesthesia, audiology, and radiology.
- Aggravating penalties for healthcare workers who practice the profession without obtaining a licence and do not meet the requirements.
- The law refers to a number of medical ethics and professional conducts for healthcare professionals.
- Updating disciplinary sanctions according to the violations committed with the continuity of the operation of private health facilities.
- Establishing a national registry for licensed healthcare professionals in the country.
- Allowing foreign entrepreneurs and businesses to invest in veterinary sector through establishing and owning veterinary facilities.
UAE imposes stricter penalties for unlicensed health practitioners, veterinary sector
The UAE government has unveiled a series of newly-approved federal laws and amendments, imposing harsher penalties for practicing a health profession without a valid license.
The legislation also includes the veterinary sector, with changes made to ensure the quality and ethical standards of health services provided within the country.
The changes highlight the government’s unwavering commitment to upholding the integrity of health professions.
Under the revised regulations, individuals who engage in health practices without the requisite license or fail to meet the necessary professional standards will face severe consequences.
One of the key aspects of the new regulations is concerned with the conduct of non-physician health workers across various disciplines.
These changes impact a wide array of areas, ranging from nursing and medical laboratories to physiotherapy and medical radiology.
The law mandates that practicing any health profession without the necessary license or employing fraudulent means to acquire it will result in significant penalties.
Individuals who falsely present themselves as licensed professionals through mediums like leaflets or boards will be met with fines ranging from AED50,000 to AED100,000, or may face jail time.
Moreover, a verdict could lead to the suspension of the license, removal from the professional registry, and, in extreme cases, closure of the establishment where the offense took place.
Those who meet the criteria for a health profession license but begin practicing or promoting themselves without obtaining the license face fines ranging from AED10,000 to AED100,000.
The court can also shut down the establishment where the violation occurred, ensuring that compliance with the law remains a top priority.
Health practitioners who were licensed before the enactment of these regulations are not exempt.
They must update their status to align with the latest rules within either the remaining duration of their current license or six months from the effective date of the law’s executive regulations.
The newly-revised legislation also introduces monetary penalties for health establishments found guilty of minor infractions.
Penalties range from formal warnings to fines up to AED500,000, and offenders might face suspension from their duties or even a permanent ban from working in the field.
Ethical standards and responsibilities are given paramount importance in the revised law. Health practitioners are obliged to operate within the confines of their granted license, stay updated with federal and local legislation, and perform their duties with precision and honesty.
The Ministry of Health and Prevention will maintain a national register for licensed health professionals within the country.
Moreover, the veterinary sector will also undergo significant changes under the revised legislation.
Entrepreneurs and foreign investors are now permitted to establish and own veterinary facilities, fostering foreign investment within the sector.
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