UAE toughens penalties for unlicensed health professionals

The UAE Government approved a number of federal decrees and amendments of certain provisions on the regulations of healthcare professions, healthcare providers and veterinary medicine.

This comes as part of regulating the practice of non-doctors and pharmacists for a number of healthcare professions, including nursing, laboratories, medical physics, functional therapy, physiotherapy, aesthetics, anesthesia, audiology, and radiology.

The amendments aim to aggravate penalties for healthcare workers who practice the profession without obtaining a licence and those who do not meet the requirements.

The law also prohibits the submission of false documents or incorrect data to the health authority or employer, in addition to prohibiting the disclosure of the patient’s secrets.

Whoever practices the profession without holding a licence and without meeting the conditions that allow him to obtain the licence, or whoever submits incorrect documents or data or resorts to unlawful means that result in their wrongful licensing, will be punished by imprisonment and by a fine of not less than Dhs50,000 and not exceeding Dhs100,000 or by either penalty.

In addition, the Health Authority may close the Health Facility by administrative decision if the violator operates it individually.

As per the law, any person who practices the profession without holding a licence should be punished by a fine of not less than Dhs 10,000 and not exceeding Dhs 100,000.

In any case, the Health Authority may close the health facility by administrative decision if the violator operates it individually.

The amendment to the law introduced new penalties for healthcare facilities committed for non-serious offences that do not require the temporary closure of the facility, or the suspension of its director, operator, administration or employee.

As per the law, a fine of not less than one thousand dirhams (Dhs1,000) and not exceeding Dhs1m, or a temporary closure of the facility in whole or in part for a period not exceeding six months, or a final closure of the facility in whole or in part, should be the sanction imposed on the private health facility in case of committing a violation of the provisions of the law or its executive regulations or decisions issued pursuant to it.

Updated penalties and fines include a written warning, a fine of not less than Dhs 1,000 and not exceeding Dhs 500,000, a temporary suspension of the licence to practice the profession for a period not exceeding six months or the revocation of the licence to practice the profession, in case the director or the manager of the health facility, the administration or personnel violates the provisions of the law, its executive regulations or decisions issued pursuant to it.

WAM