The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries require mandatory medical tests for foreign workers because they want to maintain high health standards. This particularly applies to those coming from countries covered under the GAMCA (Gulf Approved Medical Centres Association) Health Organization expatriate program, such as India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, and others. However, it’s important to note that the GAMCA program is now been replaced by the Wafid program.
The Wafid Medical Examination
The Wafid Medical Examination is a mandatory health check-up required by the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries for foreign workers seeking employment opportunities in the region. This examination is a crucial step in the visa application process and is designed to ensure that you are physically fit and do not carry any infectious diseases that could potentially impact public health in the GCC region.
Purpose of the Examination
The Wafid Medical Examination’s primary purpose is to evaluate expatriates’ health fitness. It sees if individuals are fit to work and do not pose a health risk to the local population. The examination is a requirement for obtaining various types of visas from GCC countries, including employment, residence, and family visas.
What Health Conditions Examination Cover?
The Wafid Medical Examination covers a broad range of health conditions. It includes tests for infectious diseases such as HIV, AIDS, Tuberculosis, HCV, Leprosy, Microfilaria, Pulmonary scar, VDRL, TPHA, and non-infectious diseases such as Diabetes mellitus, Congestive heart failure, Chronic renal failure, psychiatric diseases, Physical disabilities, Hypertension, Any form of cancer, and Neurological disorders.
Pregnancy may also lead to an ‘UNFIT’ status when applying for a Work Visa. This is because certain jobs are risky to the health of the pregnant women or the unborn child.
The Examination Process
The examination process is conducted at GCC-approved medical centres. These centres will have necessary facilities and trained medical professionals to perform the tests. The results of the examination is then compiled into a medical report, which is used to determine the individual’s fitness to work.
Checking Your Wafid Medical Status
To check the status of your gamca medical status, you can visit the Wafid website. There you can quickly determine whether you are eligible or not. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to do it:
Step 1: Visit the Wafid Website
Start by visiting the Wafid website https://wafid.com/. This is the official platform where all the medical status information is stored and can be accessed.
Step 2: Choose the Search Method
On the website, you will be presented with two options to search for your medical status. You can search either by Passport Number or Wafid Slip Number. Select the option that is most convenient for you.
Step 3: Enter Your Details
If you choose to search by Passport Number, you must enter your passport number and select your nationality from the drop-down list. If you search by Wafid Slip Number enter your Wafid slip number in the provided field.
Step 4: Check Your Status
After entering the required details, click on the check button to search for your medical status. The system will then process your request and display your medical status.
Step 5: Understand Your Results
Your medical status will be displayed on the next page. If you see FIT in your result, you have passed the medical examination and met the required health standards to work in the GCC region. However, if you see UNFIT, it means you have not met the required health standards.
We recommend you to regularly check your status, especially if you’re in the process of applying for a work visa.
Validity of the Wafid Medical Report
Once issued, a Wafid medical report remains valid for 90 days. From the date of receiving the report, you will have three months to get your passport stamped. It’s important to note that this validity period is fixed and cannot be extended. Therefore, it’s crucial to plan your visa application process accordingly to ensure your medical report is still valid at the time of your visa stamping.
Retesting Conditions
If you receive UNFIT status in your Wafid medical report, you have not met the required health standards set by the GCC countries. When this happens, you are banned from retesting for a period of 3-6 months for residence, work, or family visas.
The duration of the ban depends on the specific health condition that led to the UNFIT status.
Once the ban period ends, you can undergo the medical examination again. However, it’s important to note that the retesting process might require additional medical tests or treatments, depending on the health condition that led to the initial UNFIT status.
Wafid Testing Centres in India
Wafid has GCC-approved testing centres across India in cities like Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Calicut, Chennai, Cochin, Delhi, Goa, Hyderabad, Jaipur, Kolkata, Lucknow, Mangalore, Manjeri, Mumbai, Patna, Tirur, Trichy, Trivandrum. You can check India’s complete list of testing centres from your link.