UAE Healthcare / Pharma LawFederal Law No. (14) of 2014 on Control of Communicable Diseases

Article (1) In applying the provisions of this Law, the following terms and phrases shall bear the meanings assigned thereto respectively, unless the context otherwise requires: State : United Arab Emirates. Ministry : Ministry of Health. Minister : Minister of Health. Health Body : Any federal government or local body having competence over health affairs in the State. Concerned Department : Department of Preventive Medicine at the Ministry or the equivalent department in other Health Bodies. Communicable Disease : An infectious disease resulting from the transmission of a pathogenic agent or one of its toxic products or secretions either directly or indirectly to another person and infecting him with the disease. Pathogenic Agent : The agent causing the Communicable Disease. Carrier of the Pathogenic Agent : The person who has the Pathogenic Agent in his body without showing the signs and symptoms of the disease. Epidemic : A health emergency represented in the emergence of cases of a disease that

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Federal Law No. (14) of 2014 On Control of Communicable Diseases 3 communicated among a population group in a certain geographical area within a certain period at a marked increase from the normal expectations compared to a period similar to the previous period at the same region and time in the same area and causes concerns at the national level. Contamination : The presence of an infectious agent from the Pathogenic Agents or those causing the Communicable Disease in a body, tool or material. Disinfection : The utilization of chemical, physical or other approved methods to eliminate the largest proportion of the agents causing the Communicable Disease. Endemic : A disease which is constantly present in a certain geographic area or population group. Infected : Each person infected with the Pathogenic Agent or its toxic products or secretions whether or not the signs and symptoms of the disease have appeared on him. Suspected : Is the person who is concluded to bear the pathogenic Agent from his medical history or signs that appear on him. Contact : Whoever in contact with the Infected or Carrier of the Pathogenic Agent in a manner that enables the transmission of infection to him during disease spread. Isolation : Is the separation of the Infected or Suspected from the healthy persons willingly or forcibly for the incubation period of the disease in suitable healthy places and conditions in order to prevent the transmission of infection from the Infected or Suspected to another person. Quarantine : Is the restriction of the activities of healthy people or animals that have been exposed to a Pathogenic Agent during disease spread for a period

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Federal Law No. (14) of 2014 On Control of Communicable Diseases 4 equivalent to the longest incubation period. Involuntary Hospitalization : To force the patient to stay in a health facility for a certain period in order to receive the treatment prescribed to him. Surveillance : To constantly inspect of all aspects of occurrence and spread of the Communicable Disease through collecting, comparing and analyzing data for the purposes of public health in a systematic and continuous manner and to broadcast information on public health in time for the purposes of health evaluation and response, when necessary. Immunization : To protect individuals from Communicable Disease that can be protected from by the administration of vaccines, serums or preventive medications. Facility : It is the shop, factory, company or any other place where a number of people work. Health Facility : It is the Facility where a health activity is practiced regardless the number of workers therein. Voluntary Anonymous Testing : Is the testing that grants the person, who chooses it within the frame of prevention and treatment from Communicable Diseases, strict confidentiality which enables the patient to hide his identity upon undergoing testing.

Article (4) 1. The following categories shall, whenever they become aware of or suspected the infection or death of any person by any of the Communicable Diseases listed in Group (A) of Schedule (1) attached hereto, immediately notify the body it follows by virtue of the work thereof no later than 24 hours: A. Physicians working in the government or private sector; B. Pharmacists and pharmacy technicians in the government or private sector; and C. Practitioners of medical professions by persons other than physicians and pharmacists in the government or private sector. 2. The following categories shall, whenever they become aware of or suspected the infection or death of any person by any of the Communicable Diseases listed in Group (A) of Schedule (1) attached hereto, to immediately notify the Ministry or the nearest Health Body thereof: A. Adult contacts; B. Immediate supervisor at the place of work or study of the patient or Suspected; C. Captain of the ship, pilot or diver of a public means of transport, if the patient or suspected travelling on board of any of the same; D. Manager of the punitive Facility, hotel, camp, orphanage or any touristic gatherings or any other gatherings where the patient or Suspected is present; and

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Federal Law No. (14) of 2014 On Control of Communicable Diseases 6 E. Criminal investigator. 3. The Executive Regulation hereof shall determine the procedures and means by which reporting is made as well as the forms utilized for such purpose.

Article (6) Every person, who becomes aware of or suspects that any animal owned by him or under his supervision or responsibility is infected with a Communicable Disease that can be transmitted to humans and listed in Schedule (3) attached hereto, shall immediately inform the governmental veterinary body of the animal's infection. If such body finds out that the animal is infected with a Communicable Disease, it shall expeditiously take the measures necessary for avoiding the spread of the disease or transmission thereof to humans and immediately inform the Concerned Department, in accordance with the provisions of the Executive Regulation hereof.

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Federal Law No. (14) of 2014 On Control of Communicable Diseases 7 Chapter III Communicable Diseases Control Measures

Article (10) 1. The Ministry and Health Body shall, upon being informed of a person who is infected or suspected to be infected with a Communicable Disease from the diseases listed in any of Schedules (1) and (3) attached hereto, immediately perform the following: A. Move to the place of infection in cases that so require; B. Place the case under surveillance in order to confirm the disease an source of infection and make investigations on the contacts and non-reported cases of infection; C. Take the expeditious measures necessary for preventing disease spread, including Isolation, if necessary; D. Perform the necessary tests, including the collection of samples and dispatching them for laboratory inspection in order to diagnose the disease and determine the source of infection; and E. Refer the Infected and Contacts to receive the necessary treatment. 2. The Health Facilities shall fully cooperate with the Ministry and Health Body in order to be provided with the required information; including diagnosis, treatment and follow-up of the patient.

Article (12) 1. If the manager of an educational institution or any other facility suspected that any student or worker in the facility is infected with a Communicable Disease, he shall refer the suspected to the competent physician for examination and receive a report from the latter indicating the health status of the Suspected. If it has been proved that such person is infected with such disease, he shall immediately inform the Ministry or Health Body thereof and take the appropriate measures for preventing disease spread. 2. The manager of the educational institution or any other Facility, Ministry and Health Body shall isolate the Infected and Contacts or quarantine them, either by prohibiting them from entering the Facility or by any means that prevent them from contacting other people, taking into account the time limits set forth in Schedule (2) attached hereto or the time limits specified by the Ministry and Health Body. 3. The manager of the educational institution or any other Facility may only accept the return of a person infected with a Communicable Disease to the Facility from which he was distanced after meeting all the conditions prescribed by the Ministry or Health Body for the return of the Infected to the Facility where he belongs.

Article (13) 1. The Ministry and Health Body shall, when necessary, after obtaining the approval of the Minister, in coordination with the relevant bodies, order the Disinfection of any international means of transport or placement of any geographical area under quarantine until the same is disinfected in accordance with the international health regulations in order to prevent disease outbreak or limit disease spread. 2. The Ministry and Health Body shall, whenever necessary, in coordination with the relevant bodies, take the actions necessary for the attachment of any internal means of

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Federal Law No. (14) of 2014 On Control of Communicable Diseases 10 transport or disinfect buildings and real property or movables in order to prevent disease outbreak or limit disease spread.

Article (17) The Ministry and Health Body shall coordinate with the concerned body to order the following: 1. To damage any food, beverages, or materials utilized in the preparation and processing foods have been confirmed to be contaminated with the Pathogenic Agent of any Communicable Disease that is transmitted through food or beverages, or to safely dispose of any animal that is infected or suspected to be infected with the Pathogenic Agent; and 2. To prohibit trading in products upon the occurrence of infection with a disease that is transmitted through food or beverages in factories of food or beverages, farms, or food processing facilities, especially dairy products and their derivatives, until confirming that the same are free from Pathogenic Agents and taking the health procedures required in this regard. Such order shall be issued by the Ministry or Health Body, as the case may be, and the concerned body shall be committed to implementation thereof, each as competent.

Article (18) In case of Epidemics, the Ministry and Health Body shall coordinate with the concerned body to take the actions required in this regard and order the following: 1. To announce any place or geographical area as an infected place and regulate entrance into and exist out of the same; 2. To prohibit or constrain gatherings or holding private and public ceremonies; 3. To take appropriate health procedures regarding the regulation of markets, roads and other public places; 4. To take appropriate procedures vis-à-vis the patient, Suspect or Contacts thereof for the

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Federal Law No. (14) of 2014 On Control of Communicable Diseases 12 purpose of preventing disease outbreak or limiting disease spread. 5. To take health procedures required for ensuring the safety of water and protecting the sources thereof from contamination with any Pathogenic Agent; and 6. To take any other procedure deemed necessary for protecting public health and preventing widespread of the Epidemic.

Article (30) With the exception of the provisions of Article (4) hereof, for the purpose of detection of the Communicable Diseases specified under the Executive Regulation hereof, any person may perform a Voluntary Anonymous Testing at the health centers and institutions designated under a decision of the Ministry or Health Body. In this case, the physicians and all workers in such centers and institutions who undertake such testing shall neither disclose the patient's identity nor his testing result. The Infected diagnosed with having the disease shall receive treatment pursuant to the provisions of this Article. The residence permit of the infected immigrants shall remain valid until the expiry of the term thereof and may be renewed if the results of medical examination show that the immigrant is medically fit. The Executive Regulation of this Law shall determine the rules governing Anonymous Testing, including the method of protecting the Contacts.

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Federal Law No. (14) of 2014 On Control of Communicable Diseases 16

Article (31) 1. The person who becomes aware that he is infected or suspected to be infected with any of the Communicable Diseases specified by the Concerned Department amongst the diseases set forth in Schedule (1) attached hereto, shall be banned from travelling or moving to any place other than the health Facility, except under the approval of the Ministry or Health Body. 2. Any arrival becomes aware that he is infected or suspected to be infected with any of the Communicable Diseases specified by the Concerned Department amongst the diseases set forth in Schedule (1) attached hereto, shall be banned from entering the State prior to informing the Ministry or Health Body thereof and obtaining the approval thereof. He shall also notify the same upon his arrival to the State in accordance with the procedures specified under the Executive Regulation of this Law. 3. The Health Body shall take the necessary measures vis-à-vis the arrivals from countries infected with any Communicable Diseases specified by the Ministry or Health Body amongst the diseases set forth in Schedule (1) attached hereto. Such arrivals shall be subject to the required health procedures specified under the Executive Regulation of this Law in order to confirm whether or not they are free from Communicable Diseases. With respect to the Inspected, they shall be subject to the procedures prescribed by the Ministry and the Health Body, including Isolation, in accordance with their health condition. 4. The Ministry shall declare the infected countries in accordance with the procedures specified under the Executive Regulation of this Law.

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Federal Law No. (14) of 2014 On Control of Communicable Diseases 17