A scheme that brings foreign specialists to patients, saving them having to travel overseas, costs millions each year, but experts insist it is a price worth paying
Since the Ministry of Health's visiting consultant programme started 20 years ago, it has helped thousands of patients receive what is often life-saving surgery.
Specialist doctors from some of the world's best institutions - including Johns Hopkins Hospital and the Cleveland Clinic in the US, and Great Ormond Street Hospital in London - have come to help patients with everything from eye problems to kidney ailments, providing skilled treatment that would otherwise be unavailable in the Emirates.
The scheme, which costs about Dh10 million a year, is cheaper and less disruptive than sending patients abroad, according to Dr Hani El-Solh, director of the programme.
He said the UAE's small population means the cost of specialist centres, which would see only a handful of patients a year, is hard to justify. As well as the cost of building such units, they have to be kept up to date, both in terms of equipment and the staff who must keep abreast of the latest techniques and research.
"For the price of sending one patient and a family member abroad, we can bring a doctor here to do 12 or 15 surgeries," said Dr El-Solh.
"When we bring physicians here, our doctors are able to get hands-on learning experiences. If we sent them abroad they would only be able to observe. It benefits both the medical staff and the patients."
The ministry lines up a number of cases before flying in a specialist to do the diagnosis or surgery. Most patients are in the northern Emirates, where the ministry is in full control of health care. Abu Dhabi and Dubai, by contrast, have their own authorities.
Emiratis are given priority because they are legally entitled to free health care. Qualifying expatriates pay a fee to the hospital for the treatment, either from their own pocket or from their health insurer.
When a patient list is drawn up, a doctor, and sometimes a small team, is flown in and given a daily allowance, Dr El-Solh said.
Dr Richard Trompeter, who specialises in children's kidney aliments, has been performing surgeries in the UAE for 20 years.
He worked as a British National Health Service consultant at Great Ormond Street Hospital and is now an honorary consultant at the Royal Free Hospital, also in London.
Since he began visiting the UAE he has witnessed huge advances in its medical services and has seen the visiting consultants programme go from strength to strength.
"Many of the doctors in the UAE, by virtue of the fact that the population base is small, will not have had the global experience to offer patients because they haven't seen the cases in order to generate that experience.
"It isn't that these services aren't good or that it can't cope, it's simply that you have to have had the opportunity to see patients with hundreds of different conditions in order to recognise things sometimes."
Dr Trompeter said the programme offered visiting consultants "exposure to many illnesses and conditions no longer prevalent in countries in Europe and the US".
Some genetic diseases, for example, are rare in these places.
One of the biggest challenges for the programme is assuring patients they will receive follow-up treatment even if they chose the visiting physician option over travelling overseas for care.
According to Dr El-Solh, the doctors return a couple of times a year and are always available by telephone or e-mail.
He noted that there are patients who have grown accustomed to being "medical tourists" when they need a doctor's attention and are reluctant to give it up. "Patients want to have a trip to Europe and do other things while they are there, the touristy things," he said. "[But that attitude] will change, because it has to, in time."
Almost 2,000 patients were sent abroad between 2005 and 2007, according to the ministry. Most went to Germany, with Britain and the US also common destinations.
Building links between the visiting doctors and their local counterparts has also been a challenge.
"Trust between doctors is also important," he said. "It took time for the doctors here to stop feeling like they were being evaluated and judged on their performance and facilities.
"Now this is solved because they meet the visiting consultants two or three times a year and build relationships with them. They can call on them if they need advice or assistance. This is a huge benefit."
@Email:munderwood@thenational.ae
RESULTS
West Asia Premiership
Thursday
Jebel Ali Dragons 13-34 Dubai Exiles
Friday
Dubai Knights Eagles 16-27 Dubai Tigers
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Israel Palestine on Swedish TV 1958-1989
Director: Goran Hugo Olsson
Rating: 5/5
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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TV: World Cup Qualifier 2018 matches will be aired on on OSN Sports HD Cricket channel
BORDERLANDS
Starring: Cate Blanchett, Kevin Hart, Jamie Lee Curtis
Director: Eli Roth
Rating: 0/5
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre turbo 4-cyl
Transmission: eight-speed auto
Power: 190bhp
Torque: 300Nm
Price: Dh169,900
On sale: now
The specs
Engine: 2.7-litre 4-cylinder Turbomax
Power: 310hp
Torque: 583Nm
Transmission: 8-speed automatic
Price: From Dh192,500
On sale: Now
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
THE SPECS
Range Rover Sport Autobiography Dynamic
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Transmission: six-speed manual
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How to protect yourself when air quality drops
Install an air filter in your home.
Close your windows and turn on the AC.
Shower or bath after being outside.
Wear a face mask.
Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.
If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.
Top investing tips for UAE residents in 2021
Build an emergency fund: Make sure you have enough cash to cover six months of expenses as a buffer against unexpected problems before you begin investing, advises Steve Cronin, the founder of DeadSimpleSaving.com.
Think long-term: When you invest, you need to have a long-term mindset, so don’t worry about momentary ups and downs in the stock market.
Invest worldwide: Diversify your investments globally, ideally by way of a global stock index fund.
Is your money tied up: Avoid anything where you cannot get your money back in full within a month at any time without any penalty.
Skip past the promises: “If an investment product is offering more than 10 per cent return per year, it is either extremely risky or a scam,” Mr Cronin says.
Choose plans with low fees: Make sure that any funds you buy do not charge more than 1 per cent in fees, Mr Cronin says. “If you invest by yourself, you can easily stay below this figure.” Managed funds and commissionable investments often come with higher fees.
Be sceptical about recommendations: If someone suggests an investment to you, ask if they stand to gain, advises Mr Cronin. “If they are receiving commission, they are unlikely to recommend an investment that’s best for you.”
Get financially independent: Mr Cronin advises UAE residents to pursue financial independence. Start with a Google search and improve your knowledge via expat investing websites or Facebook groups such as SimplyFI.
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Race card
5pm: Handicap (PA) Dh80,000 (Turf) 1,600m; 5.30pm: Maiden (PA) Dh80,000 (T) 1,400m
6pm: Handicap (PA) Dh80,000 (T) 1,400m; 6.30pm: Handicap (PA) Dh80,000 (T) 1,200m
7pm: Wathba Stallions Cup Handicap (PA) Dh70,000 (T) 2,200m
7.30pm: Handicap (TB) Dh100,000 (PA) 1,400m
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