UAE Streamlines Sick Leave: Ministry Overhauls System to Eliminate Patient Paperwork

The UAE's Ministry of Health and Prevention has introduced a significant overhaul to its sick leave system, aiming to reduce administrative burdens for patients. Under the new procedure, licensed healthcare facilities will now directly submit attestation requests on behalf of patients and their companions, replacing the previous requirement for individuals to initiate these applications themselves. Requests that meet the necessary conditions will automatically advance to the approval stage, thereby removing the need for a separate application process.

These changes are a key component of the UAE Government's 'Zero Bureaucracy' initiative, which seeks to simplify public services and enhance the nation's global competitiveness in government service delivery. The ministry highlighted that these enhancements will simplify the customer journey, reduce the number of procedures, and expedite completion times.

Abdullah Ahli, acting assistant undersecretary for the Support Services Sector at the ministry, stated that these modifications align with the UAE's vision to transform service delivery. He further explained that the ministry is focused on developing a more adaptable and sustainable service-delivery model underpinned by effective data exchange. Mr. Ahli emphasized that 'Zero Bureaucracy' is evaluated based on concrete improvements in customer experience and government operational efficiency. He also noted the ministry's ongoing efforts to cultivate a culture of continuous improvement to elevate service quality and bolster confidence in institutional performance.

The automatic integration of sick leave attestation and approval services is now applicable to federal government employees and the local governments of Ajman, Umm Al Quwain, Ras Al Khaimah, and Fujairah, adhering to established controls. Furthermore, these enhancements empower healthcare facilities to submit attestation requests for patient companion leave concurrently with patients' sick leave, providing support to those accompanying patients throughout the process.