On 31 July 2021, the Dubai Health Authority (DHA) issued a circular (Circular) stating that DHA licensed health facilities cannot offer PCR swabs and vaccination services for COVID-19 in Dubai through third party digital platforms that are not approved by DHA.
Based on the Circular, all e-commerce aggregators and marketplaces must register themselves under DHA’s e-services portal called the Sheryan portal. In relation to the steps, aggregators will have to apply for a new “facility license” and opt for “Tele-health”, under which they may select “aggregator/online booking”.
The above Circular provides a helpful clarification because previously, it was not apparent whether e-commerce aggregators were required to obtain the approval of the DHA for being an intermediary between DHA licensed entities and the general public. Furthermore, the DHA e-services website appeared to provide a registration mechanism only for healthcare companies. As such, it was understood that the DHA licensed entity would have to procure the relevant approvals to list their products or services on a third-party aggregator. The Circular now clarifies that third-party aggregators must also obtain a license from the DHA to facilitate the provision of healthcare services.
The DHA Circular may be accessed here.
This article is for general information purposes only and does not constitute legal or professional advice. It should not be used as a substitute for legal advice relating to your particular circumstances. Please note that the law may have changed since the date of this article.