Mangaluru: Non-activation of MOFA number – GAMCA Office Gheraoed by Saudi Visa Holders
Mangaluru: More than 70 people gathered in front of the GCC Approved Medical Center Association, Balmatta here on April 1, demanding to close down Medistar diagnostic center for not being able to register their medical reports.
Speaking to mangalorean.com, a travel agent Nizammuddin said that people come to GAMCA for medical tests to go to gulf countries for employment. “Candidates pay a huge amount for their employment visa and come to GAMCA for medical test. Every candidate should pay Rs 4200 for their medical test and this is the only center for the test in Dakshina Kannada. When candidates come here, the association divides them based on the country of employment. There are four centers, where the medical test is being done. They are National, Unity, Shivam and Medistar. There is no problem in processing the medical reports in three hospitals. But the medical reports of Medistar are creating problems for the candidates. We get the medical reports but while entering online, the report is not being accepted.”
Speaking to mangalorean.com, Rasheed, a candidate to Saudi, said that many candidates have paid huge amounts to get the employment visa. “For some candidates only 15 days are left to join duty in Saudi. They have already booked their air tickets. We have done our medical test and have got the report as “Fit”, but when we register our report online, the report is not being accepted. When we come to the GAMCA office, they give us assurance of getting it within 15 days, but from the past one month we have been unable to register our medical report. We cannot go to other centers for medical test without finishing three months after doing the test in one center. Now more than 70 candidates have not received the MOFA number, which will create problems for them.”
The candidates demanded the shut down of Medistar diagnostic center which is creating unnecessary problems for them, even though they have a medical test report and air ticket.
Speaking to mangalorean.com, an employee of the GAMCA Raghavendra said, “We have four centres registered under GAMCA at National, Unity, Shivam and Medistar diagnostic center. When any candidate comes here for a medical test, we register their names and according to their visa, we send them to different medical centers. Candidates going to Saudi are sent to Medistar for medical test. The three centers, National, Unity and Shivam are providing the medical reports on time, but Medistar has not payed the fees to the consulate and so the consulate is not activating the MOFA (Ministry of Foreign Affairs) number. The candidates should go and talk to the consulate but the candidates are not ready to talk to them. We are working here and we are doing our duty.”
When asked why the association is not taking action on Medistar diagnostic center, he said that the association has been informed and have assured to solve the problem by April 1. “Now, the Medistar owner is not responding to our call.”