Abu Dhabi shuts four clinics over fake sick leave scam via WhatsApp

The Department of Health – Abu Dhabi (DoH) has shut down four healthcare facilities for issuing fraudulent sick leave certificates without conducting physical medical examinations.

The closures come after a probe revealed that the clinics were issuing sick leave documents via WhatsApp in exchange for Dhs100 per day of leave. The certificates were falsely logged in patients’ medical records, complete with forged treatment consent forms.

According to DoH, the fraud was systematically coordinated by certain individuals across the four facilities. The staff involved have been referred to the Public Prosecution for further investigation.

Authorities have warned all healthcare providers to strictly comply with regulatory standards, emphasising that violations not only compromise public health but also breach legal and ethical obligations. The department reaffirmed its commitment to transparency and accountability in the emirate’s healthcare system.