Health authority denies doctor's reports

The Dubai Health Authority (DHA) has denied a report about cases of local malaria being prevalent in Dubai, citing how the World Health Organisation (WHO) had declared the UAE free of malaria since 1979. The DHA chief said a specialist team had been sent to the site (International City) in question. Qadi Al Murooshid, director general of DHA, said a review of the patients' records in the clinic in International City suggested that they had travelled to India and Pakistan, and spent a long time there before returning to Dubai. "They brought the malaria infection back home to Dubai. This refutes the entire report about the existence of cases of local malaria," he clarified. The DHA chief reiterated that no malaria cases have been reported among Dubai residents. Al Murooshid said the news report based on the statement of Dr. Fawzia Ayoub "underlines and confirms the lack of commitment to rules, regulations and laws adopted and issued by the DHA. [This[ doctor is not an official source and is not authorised to release information on infectious disease to the media," he said. Al Murooshid said that releasing a patient's personal information is not authorised by law, and violates confidentiality and privacy laws. "The physician's failure to report the existence of such claimed cases is deemed a violation of the related applicable principles and laws," he said. There is an electronic system which is linked to all medical facilities and reports any infectious disease. "This enables the DHA to take urgent measures to prevent the spread of such diseases," he added.