Medical screening; be it for employment, residency, education or any other purpose is a mandatory procedure. Its importance is based on the fact to identify underlying medical or health anomalies earlier so as to avoid any unlikely occurrences or accidents during the course. In the last few years, many different and unexpected health conditions and the rise of pandemic COVID-19 globally triggered the urge to maintain strict health and safety standards which further expanded the list of essential screening tests and benefits in return.

All that said, every country has its screening requisites different but here, we’ll have a look at some of the most common that lets you move across borders conveniently as well as aid you with intercity travelling. Read on to know more!

Medical Screening: In a Glimpse

While diagnostic tests are performed to identify particular symptoms to a disease, screening tests are different as these are performed on seemingly healthy individuals for possible dormant or underlying medical issues that may prove troublesome later at some stage. This way, the disease or illness can be treated while it’s at its infancy.

However, it must be noted that all such medical tests may not be considered or become a base of concluding the diagnostics. Most of these are to detect abnormalities after which more detailed tests are recommended by the physician (only if any disease has been identified or a particular test comes out positive).

On the contrary, screening tests aren’t always performed to identify a disease but to check physical and mental stability of individuals as an industrial criterion. These are often known as pre-employment screening tests commonly includes blood tests, weight, X-Rays so on. The findings aren’t always clear as results may end up somewhere in a grey area i.e., between normal and uncertainty.

Types of Medical Screening

  • Blood Cholesterol:

Healthy cholesterol aids development of cell membranes, essential hormones and vitamins in a human body. It comes from; the food we eat and liver production whereas bad cholesterol is a term used for unhealthy fat that can clog the blood supply stream in a body, raising the risk of various cardiovascular diseases and worse; sudden cardiac arrest (heart attack). It’s thus important to understand and maintain the right cholesterol level required by a healthy human body.

  • Pap/Pap Smears Test:

Samples of cells collected from the cervix in women to identify possible changes in the cellular system eventually leading to cervical cancer is performed under Pap Smears test. Such test is performed on women under 65 years of age to detect possible cancer before any positive symptoms emerge so as to treat it at its earliest.

 

  • Blood Pressure:

Perhaps the simplest yet an important test is of blood pressure is conducted to check vitality of a human at its current state. Any fluctuation, high-or-low pressure may be an indication of underlying disease which mostly lead to cardiovascular diseases.

  • Diabetes:

Fluctuation or imprecision in the blood pressure check may be a sign of having diabetes which is mostly inherited and runs in the family throughout generations. One of the most proposed treatment in such a case is only to eat healthy and adaptation to a healthy lifestyle.

  • Mammograms, Osteoporosis:

Like Pap, Mammograms, Osteoporosis tests are conducted to identify, prevent and/or treat cancer of the breast and cervical in the women before symptoms emerge.

  • Colorectal Cancer:

It’s possible that certain individuals above the age of 50 are carriers of various inherited diseases, mutations and/or gene defects such as colorectal polyps, inflammatory bowel disorder. For identification and treatment of such factors, tests are important and must be conducted.

Significance of Health/Medical Screening

To maintain optimal health for off country employment, study or residency visa or simply for personal wellbeing, regular health/medical screening plays a significant role. Let’s have a quick look into some of the most important reasons!

  • Identification of a particular health anomaly that might hamper your ability to perform daily tasks at home and work later on.
  • Better management and treatment which eventually decreases the risks and reoccurrence of a particular disease while creating a stronger defence mechanism in your body.
  • Age is yet another important factor in contributing to various health disorders where the only option is early diagnosis and treatment.
  • Inherited diseases such as diabetes, psychological issues or inhuman behaviour or any other that can be treated only if identified on time.

Just in-case you’re under the age of 30 and willing to move cross border for whatever the purpose in the UAE or any other country, it’s compulsory to have your medical test for visa in Abu Dhabi from a government certified visa medical centre.

Apart from all the tests and medical procedures listed above, do note that these may vary based on age and purpose so it’s better to come clear while avoiding any last-minute hassle.

When to Have Your Medical Screening?

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has also proposed particular criteria or standards for screening test evaluation that helps in deciding when and if one should even opt for the tests or not. These are:

  • Screening should be performed only for diseases or employment that pose a significant threat or outcome, leading to overall health protection and benefits.
  • Test and test results muse be reliable enough to form a sound conclusion if the individual is to proceed or opt for more detailed medical examination.
  • Some of the tests can be harmful for an individual. It’s advised to question individual(s) about current health status before recommending the tests.
  • For all the tests included in the list, there has to be an effective treatment on early detection with effective results and evidence that can prevent the disease or symptom from getting worse.
  •  A balanced or neutral information should be communicated to the general public to assist them in deciding about the screening tests.

Background Checks/Character Evaluation in the Post Pandemic World

In the new normal world struggling with the coronavirus pandemic, there are certain tests and evaluation criteria that have been standardised and accepted on a global scale.

  • Drug Tests:

Specialised drug tests are performed with a mouth swab sample of a specimen to check possibility of drug intake, drug abuse and likewise factors. Mouth swabs are shipped to the specimen who would reship the sample back to the authorities for evaluation.

  • Remote Hiring:

Hiring new employees and talent is mostly happening virtually or remotely. New rules and regulations have been released and accepted to carry out a smooth onboarding procedure post all essential medical screening.

  • Health Tests & Screening:

Nowadays, there’re various COVID-19 health apps to ensure a potential candidate is overall healthy, safe and pose no threat of coronavirus to anyone in the company. Hiring management is responsible to make good and legal use of all such apps and digital devices.

  • Social Media Channels:

Social media today reveals almost everything about a person and his/her family, interests, preferences and so much more. It can be one of the most reliable sources of hiring the best employee however, make sure that social media channel or ID is authentic; not fake.

All the above details will act as a guide to have your health or medical screening in the smoothest and most convenient manner. Still, it’s best to check out your local visa medical screening centres or government websites for updates and protocols followed in your country of origin.