RAK hospital gets Dh60m for makeover

Saqr Hospital in Ras Al Khaimah has been granted Dh60 million for expansion and development by Sheikh Khalifa, President of the UAE.

Emphasis will be on the emergency and casualty department, which is too small to house the large number of patients.

An inspection by the Health, Labour and Social Affairs committee of the FNC concluded that the emergency ward was in vital need of change to support "the growing population".

Salim Al Ameri (Abu Dhabi), the chairman of the committee, said a lack of awareness meant those with no urgent problems went to the emergency ward rather than a GP, adding that long waiting times for appointments could also have caused this.

"When we spoke to the patients, they wanted more services - and there were people who wanted it bigger and developed," he said after their visit last month.

Money will also go towards building new clinics, according to Wam, the state news agency.

Ahmed Juma Al Zaabi, Deputy Minister for Presidential Affairs, said the committee, following up on the President's orders, paid special attention to health projects to "give much care for the welfare of the citizen", Wam stated.

Meanwhile, a project to "raise the requirements of traffic safety" of the Fujairah-Khor Fakkan road was awarded Dh24m by the President.