Coronavirus: new hospital opens for Covid-19 patients in Abu Dhabi

Centre was converted into coronavirus hospital within 15 days, in response to growing need for hospital beds

A Dar Al Shifaa branch hospital in Khalifa City A has just opened to treat coronavirus patients. Courtesy: Reem Hospital

A hospital dedicated to treating Covid-19 patients in Abu Dhabi has opened.

A branch of Dar Al Shifaa – the first private hospital in the capital to be licensed by the Ministry of Health, in 1982 – has added 80 beds to the emirate’s capacity.

The medical centre, in Khalifa City A, was built a year earlier but was not in use.

It was converted into a coronavirus hospital within 15 days in response to the emirate’s growing need for hospital beds.

It will be operated by Reem Hospital, in collaboration with the Department of Health and Abu Dhabi Healthcare Services, or Seha.

Zaid Al Siksek, chairman of Reem Hospital, said opening the centre was made a priority after the Department of Health “made it clear that there will be additional beds required".

It will reduce patient pressure from other hospitals, including the recently built field hospitals.

“Our management, employees and suppliers have worked around the clock over the past two weeks to allow Dar Al Shifaa Hospital to be operational and provide additional supply of beds,” Mr Al Siksek said.

About 35 staff, most of whom were recruited over the past two weeks, will work at the hospital.

The operator is now working to open a larger hospital on Reem Island.

Set to open in the second half of 2020, Reem Hospital will have more than 200 beds.

The hospital will provide post-acute rehabilitation, with a focus on women and child health, as well as outpatient and inpatient services.