Coronavirus: government hospitals in UAE to resume suspended health services

All outpatient visits and scheduled surgeries for urgent medical conditions are now allowed

DUBAI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES, 05 SEPTEMBER 2015. Members of the public wait to donate blood at the Latifa Hospital in Zabeel. (Photo: Antonie Robertson/The National) Journalist: None. Section: NationalShow more

All government-run hospitals and clinics are to resume essential services that were suspended due to the coronavirus.

The Ministry of Health and Prevention confirmed the gradual resumption of suspended procedures in its facilities from June 21.

All outpatient visits and scheduled surgeries for urgent medical conditions will be allowed from Sunday.

Procedures such as plastic surgery will remain suspended in all hospitals, except in urgent cases.

Hospitals are allowed to operate under "strict and full implementation of preventive measures that ensure the highest level of protection of patients, medical care, and customers,” the ministry said.

Most departments like cardiology, paediatric, general surgery, gynaecology and obstetrics, orthopaedics, mental health services including psychiatric and social consultations and rehabilitation programmes will accept and treat patients.

Meanwhile, ENT (ear, nose, and throat) departments will accept only emergency cases.

Last week, Dr Amer Sharif, head of Dubai’s Covid-19 Command and Control Centre, said they have registered a marked decrease in the number of suspected cases visiting hospitals in the past few weeks.

The rate of infections in the last three weeks has fallen considerably while the rate of recoveries has increased.

Dr Sharif said several hospitals in Dubai are now free of any Covid-19 cases.

This has reduced pressure on medics and they can now focus on regular diagnostic and treatment services, he said.