DUBAI // The parents of a premature baby who were left heartbroken and deep in debt when their son died after months in hospital are watching immigration fines pile up while they wait to repatriate their child’s body.
Timothy Tindugan died in June after two months in a neonatal intensive care unit in Dubai. His parents, Rollie Tindugan and his wife Rhodora, face Dh175,000 in medical bills, reduced from Dh250,000 by Zulekha Hospital.
Insurers will pay for the majority of the fees for Timothy’s care, but the family must cover at least Dh77,000, as well as daily immigration fines levied against Mr Tindugan, who has remained in the country to arrange the repatriation of his son’s body to the Philippines despite his visa having expired.
The freelance architectural designer is looking for permanent work, but with such a substantial debt employers are reluctant to hire him. Each day he is without a visa, Mr Tindugan incurs more penalties and cannot leave the country to meet his son’s body once it arrives in the Philippines. So far, he owes about Dh8,000 in fines.
“All we want to do is clear the penalties so we can leave to be back in the Philippines for when Timothy is repatriated,” said Mr Tindugan, who hoped to continue his career in Dubai with his family.
“There has been poor coordination between the hospital and the insurance company that has led to delays in us being able to pay the outstanding medical fees.
“Meanwhile, we are being fined for every day that we stay in the UAE without the visa as we try to sort the problems out.”
Family friends took part in a Zumba aerobic fitness session, raising Dh1,600, but a large bill remains unpaid.
The Philippine consulate has arranged for the documents needed to repatriate Timothy, but the family is still waiting on a birth and death certificate to be provided by the preventive medicine department at Al Baraha Hospital.
A spokeswoman for Zulekha Hospital said it was not responsible for any fines incurred from immigration for the family overstaying without the necessary visa, but was willing to cut outstanding medical bills by a further Dh10,000.
“We have discussed this internally as a team, and having worked with the insurers and other authorities we are willing to give a further discount to the family on this outstanding bill,” she said.
“That is the best the hospital can do as we have already had to bear the costs that have gone into procedure. We are doing our best and are willing to speak with the family to give a further discount.”
Philippine consulate officials stepped in to help the family acquire repatriation documents for Timothy. Mr Tindugan hoped to have all the certificates needed to send his son home within a week, when a family friend will take care of the body and funeral arrangements.
Once the medical bills have been settled, Mr Tindugan planned to fly to Manila to attend the cremation before returning to Dubai.
“We are very grateful the hospital has agreed to reduce the bills,” he said.
“We think we will still owe somewhere between Dh8,000 to Dh10,000 in immigration fines. It is for overstaying here without a visa, as we have been waiting to sort out the details of sending our son back home.
“I’ve had four job interviews here in Dubai, but no one wants to take me on when they find out I’ve got outstanding overstaying fines to pay.
“They don’t know what has happened to me, but they don’t want the problems.”
nwebster@thenational.ae