Smart Card To Replace Birth Certificate Soon

The Ministry of Health has finalized the design for the smart card which will replace the paper birth certificates of citizens and residents, reports Al-Qabas daily quoting Assistant Undersecretary for Legal Affairs in Health Ministry Dr. Mahmoud Al- Abdulhadi. Al-Abdulhadi confirmed the decision will take effect in December in order to cope with the latest technological developments and to prevent forgery.

He explained the smart card will be similar to the civil ID, as it will be provided with a SIM to save all information regarding the holder. He said this is considered one of the remarkable achievements of the ministry. He added the ministry will soon sign a contract with a specialized company to issue magnetized birth certificates, indicating it is the same company which produces the civil IDs. He stressed the ministry will obtain approval from all concerned authorities to develop the information systems and approve data automatically. He pointed out the new smart card for birth certificates will be optional in the initial phase of implementation for the citizens and residents, but the ministry will later require replacing the paper certificate with the magnetized card to prevent forgery and damage.