Abu Dhabi- In a decisive move to protect the integrity of Abu Dhabi’s healthcare system, the Department of Health – Abu Dhabi (DoH) has closed four healthcare facilities found guilty of issuing fraudulent sick leave certificates without any medical consultations in exchange for payment. The involved staff members are being referred to the Public Prosecution for investigation.
Exposing the Fraud: A Coordinated Network
Investigations revealed that these clinics were issuing fake sick leave certificates via WhatsApp, asking applicants for identification, height, and weight, before requesting AED 100 per sick day to be transferred to the clinic’s bank account. These fraudulent sick leaves were then entered into patients’ medical records with forged consent signatures, despite no actual medical visit taking place.
Worse still, the four clinics were found to be operating in coordination, using intermediaries to manage and distribute these fake certificates across their networks. The misconduct not only defrauded health insurance systems but also posed a risk to the credibility of healthcare documentation in the Emirate.
Violations of Bioethical Standards
These actions represent a flagrant breach of the Department of Health – Abu Dhabi (DoH) Healthcare Workforce Bioethics Guidelines (2024), developed in partnership with the UAE Ministry of Health and Prevention (MOHAP) and Sharjah Health Authority (SHA). The guidelines serve as a national reference for ethical considerations, building on the Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct for Health Professionals issued by MOHAP in 2017. The fraudulent issuance of sick leave certificates violates several key principles of these guidelines:
- Informed consent and transparent communication
- Professional honesty and accurate documentation
- Respect for patient autonomy and data confidentiality
- Strict avoidance of financially driven medical decisions
Issuing fake sick leave certificates without examination, for financial gain, directly violates each of these standards—undermining patient trust and professional ethics. The guidelines affirm that healthcare providers must uphold transparency, avoid conflicts of interest, and maintain medical integrity at all times.
A Pattern of Accountability: Reflecting on 2024’s Enforcement Actions
The recent closures echo a series of decisive actions taken in February 2024, when the DoH fined a healthcare center AED 1 million and barred it from offering dental services due to suspected fraud. That same month, the Department also closed down eight healthcare facilities following extensive inspections.
Among them were an occupational medicine center, a laboratory, and a medical center that violated Federal Law No. 14 of 2014 concerning the prevention of infectious diseases. These facilities were also found non-compliant with electronic reporting regulations and neglected public health data standards. Additional closures involved home care providers and dental clinics over violations such as employing unlicensed staff, poor infection control, and the unauthorized use of medical licenses.
Looking Ahead: A Call for Compliance
By clearly distinguishing between acceptable practices and criminal conduct, the DoH continues to reinforce ethical standards and accountability across Abu Dhabi’s healthcare sector. It urges all providers to comply with established laws and uphold the highest levels of transparency, professionalism, and patient care to maintain public trust and system integrity.
