Faced with a high number of fake applications seeking sick leave certificates, the Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC) is going to tighten rules regarding issuance of such documents.
The Emergency Department (ED), the sole HMC body authorized to issue sick leave certificates to outpatients has come across several cases in which such certificates had been issued without proper verification, a senior HMC official has said.
The Department issues about 400 sick leave certificates daily. On a daily basis, the Department receives certificates returned by companies for further verification, after having doubts about their authenticity, according to Dr Khalid Abdul Noor, director of the Emergency Department.
There had been incidents where forged seals and signatures of the doctors were used in the certificates.
“To avoid such situations and curb the high number of fake applications, the ED will soon implement more stringent rules for issuance of sick leave certificates,” Abdul Noor told Al Sharq.
Only consultant physicians will be authorised to decide on sick leave applications and only one doctor will be assigned to sign the application forms. The forms will be kept in a safe way to avoid chances of tampering.
All sick leave certificates issued by the Department should carry an authentic HMC sticker with information about the illness and the period of leave.
Doctors who issue certificates without a proper verification of the health status of the applicants will face action.
People who suffer from mild upper respiratory infections, mild abdominal pains and injuries that are not related with work will not be issued a sick leave certificate in any circumstance.
If the application is not approved, the applicant will be given a letter showing that the person was fit to work. The employers are free to take their own decision on such cases.
The decision of the doctor who is authorised to decide on applications will be final and can not be changed by another doctor.
Patients are not allowed to approach another doctor if their applications are rejected.
Strong action will be taken against people who criticize or direct verbal or physical abuse at the doctors or nursing staff at the Department regarding sick leave certificates.
“We are loosing a number of work hours on such disputes and arguments,” said Abdul Noor.
He urged the companies to specify the nature and type of injuries that are related with work which will help the Emergency Department to take proper decision on the applications.
THE PENINSULA