The Ministry of Health has mandated that all school students participating in athletics or strenuous sports must obtain a sports medical certificate. This decision follows a series of student fatalities during sporting activities.
To support this initiative, the ministry has established sports medical units in major hospitals. These units, staffed by dedicated sports medicine officers, will conduct thorough examinations, including ECG tests. Students can visit these hospitals from Monday to Saturday to receive a fitness certificate valid for one year.
To streamline the process, the Health Ministry encourages making appointments in advance. While family doctors can provide temporary certification within three days of an event, only sports medical officers are authorized to issue the official sports medical certificate.