For free and with the click of a button…the Ministry of Health allows employees’ sick leaves to be authenticated electronically within minutes

The Ministry of Health and Community Protection announced the availability of the service of attesting sick leaves and medical reports for free through its website and smart application, in a step that reflects the government’s directions towards enhancing digital services and reducing financial burdens on customers, after the service previously required fees.

The Ministry confirmed that the service enables customers to complete authentication requests easily and quickly using the digital identity, with the possibility of obtaining sick leave or a certified medical report immediately in many cases, which supports the streamlined procedures for employees and employers.

She explained that sick leaves that do not exceed 5 days are approved automatically and immediately, while leaves that exceed 5 days are subject to review by the competent medical committees, with the decision being issued within one working day, which ensures the speed of deciding on requests while maintaining the accuracy of medical procedures.

The Ministry explained, through its digital platforms, that (the leave and medical report attestation service) allows sick leave and medical reports to be authenticated proactively if they are issued by private or government health facilities. If the attestation service is provided directly by the customer, the attestation is obtained immediately, regardless of its duration, with the aim of submitting it to employers.

Regarding the required documents, she indicated that sick leaves that last 5 days or less will be automatically authenticated, while sick leaves that last more than 5 days require (sick leave – medical report on the leave), in addition to that accompanying leave requires (attaching proof of connection – sick leave – medical report).

The Ministry of Health has specified a set of conditions and requirements for benefiting from the service, the most prominent of which are: If the sick leave is issued by private or government health facilities in Sharjah or the other Northern Emirates, it will be certified in the health facility where treatment was performed. In addition, the time period between the date of issuance of the leave from the medical facility and the request for certification from the Ministry must not exceed one month in order to obtain the Ministry’s certification.

She explained that if the sick leave, companion leave, or medical report is certified by the competent and accredited health authority in the country (Department of Health – Abu Dhabi, Health Authority – Dubai, Sharjah Health Authority), there is no need to re-certify it by the Ministry.

Regarding medical reports or sick leaves issued by health facilities outside the country, the Ministry of Health stated that they are certified by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and if the customer wishes to have the sick leave approved by the Ministry of Health and Community Protection, it will be transferred to the medical committee for review and approval.

This step comes within the framework of the Ministry’s efforts to develop the digital health services system, raise the efficiency of procedures, and enhance community confidence in the quality and speed of services provided, in keeping with the trends of smart transformation in the UAE.