Public Health Laws in Dubai

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is a welfare state. The facilities, including a strong legal system and high-tech healthcare services, have ensured the safety of UAE citizens. However, the country has federal and local laws for every sector. The public health laws in Dubai are regulated for food safety, environmental health, workplace hygiene, and communicable diseases. The professional lawyers always play a significant role in managing and regulating these laws, especially when health is involved.

Federal Law No. 14 of 2014 talks about the transmissible diseases that have a major impact on the UAE’s healthcare facilities. Under this law, public and private sectors must report if any employee or employer has a communicable disease. With reporting, prevention, and managing the outbreaks would be easier. Dubai’s Health Authority (DHA) and Ministry of Health and Prevention (MOHAP) ensure the healthcare policies in the UAE.

The public health in Dubai is regulated through different bodies, ensuring legal compliance and thorough surveillance for any outbreaks. The authorities like DHA, MOHAP, and Dubai Municipality come together to regulate, monitor, and implement the health standards all over the UAE. Nevertheless, each entity addresses different aspects of public health. Therefore, professional Dubai lawyers are essentially hired by the healthcare professionals.

Food safety is an important component of the public health laws in Dubai and across the Dubai. According to the Federal Law No. 10 of 2015, every food item shall be investigated properly to make sure that it meets with the safety requirements and safety standards throughout the production to consumption level. Food safety is held very strict in Dubai as the local municipality conducts food inspections in restaurants and food processing units. The laws and investigations about food and its safety are very much strict in United Arab Emirates.

Moreover, and additionally, the food safety in Dubai is also regulated through HACCP (Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point) systems for high-risk food businesses. Any expired food or contaminated food can lead to temporary shutdowns or revocation of licenses in the UAE. The improper storage of food is also considered a violation. Therefore, food businesses must hire professional lawyers to ensure legal compliance that would support their restaurants in the long term in the UAE.

The infectious diseases are prioritised in Dubai. They are strictly monitored to control the outbreaks. However, the Federal Law No. 14 of 2014 emphasizes on reporting contagious diseases, including COVID-19, tuberculosis, and HIV. The healthcare professionals are accountable for reporting these diseases in the UAE. However, they shall make recommendations to patients with transmissible diseases to take measures like quarantine or isolation for a time period.

The corporate/business sector must take health issues quite seriously for its regular employees and other staff. Therefore, employers should ensure proper medical facilities are provided to the employees and ensure their medical checks with different intervals. However, the pandemic efforts led to the closure of workplaces around the world. These health safety measures turned out better for everyone to stay safe and avoided medical issues. The lawyers in Dubai are prominent when healthcare professionals need their assistance to regulate proper healthcare facilities in the company.

With climate changes, several health issues have come into the world. Many developed countries are focusing on their healthcare facilities. The environmental laws are also amended in those countries. However, the Federal Law No. 24 of 1999 on Environmental Protection and Development implements the law to prevent pollution and dispose of the waste responsibly. To ensure proper disposal of the waste and minimise the water pollution in the industrial sites, Dubai Municipality monitors these sites.

In addition to the healthcare laws, the UAE labour law also emphasizes on the health of the workers in those industrial sites. This means that employers should have proper water filteration plants or system from where employees can drink water in their work routine. The sanitation systems and temperature for working outdoors shall also be monitored.

Any violation to the security and health of the employee will lead to the business suspension and employees can claim compensation.

Recently, mental health has also been taken into account to ensure better public healthcare facilities in the UAE. Therefore, Federal Law No. 10 of 2020 on Mental Health was introduced. The law is proposed to protect the rights of citizens with psychological disorders. The patient’s confidentiality is mandatory in this law. However, the involuntary admission and outpatient treatment are regulated under the law.

The public and private sectors are encouraged to talk about the mental health of their employees. These organisations should provide a safe platform in workplaces where employees can talk about their mental health and also have a solution to improve their mental health. emotional, and mental health.

The healthcare professionals cannot practice unless they have a license from the healthcare authorities. They have to meet the standards of healthcare, whether they want to become a doctor or a therapist. The DHA regulates licenses for healthcare professionals in the UAE. However, the hospitals are also inspected to ensure legal compliance as per the healthcare safety laws in the UAE.