Ibrahim Mashayekh, Head of the Department of Chest Diseases and Expatriate Health, said that 56 cases of AIDS and 49 cases of Hepatitis B were recorded amongst expats in the Kingdom during the first ten months of this year.

Mashayekh added that the number of Tuberculosis cases amongst Jordanians declined this year, amounting to just 119 cases.

Around 277,079 expats visited chest and respiratory centres this year, while the Department of Chest Diseases and Expatriate Health x-rayed around 37,532 expat patients.

While a new testing mechanism has been put in place for expats to undergo medical examinations, expats are still expected to provide health certificates from their home countries.

To increase efficiency, the Department has replaced its manual filing system with an electronic one, and set up new protocols for diagnosis, treatment and follow-up of cases until recovery.

Additionally, the quality and safety of healthcare services and monitoring of communicable diseases have improved following the implementation of field research through mobile x-ray units in industrial complexes and Syrian refugee camps.