Healthcare Overview in Dubai

Among expatriates, common health problems include respiratory problems caused by sand and dust in the air – a situation exacerbated by continuous building work in most states. Hard work and long hours in often extreme heat can also affect the immune system and compromise the body’s ability to counter illness. Expatriates can suffer sunstroke and sunburn. In the summer, humidity causes added discomfort, with eye infections common. Dehydration is also a threat and is a potentially fatal condition that shouldn’t be underestimated – not only by those working outdoors but also by anyone playing outdoor sports.

The winter months of October to March, however, bring some of the best weather anywhere in the world, with continuous warm sunshine generating a feeling of well-being and providing the opportunity for a wholesome, outdoor lifestyle. Good weather is also beneficial to mental health, and people in Dubai tend to be happier and livelier than those who have to cope with cold, wet, depressing climates.

All cities and major towns in the UAE have at least one modern hospital and usually several others with highly trained staff and state-of-the-art equipment. When choosing a hospital, your best bet is to seek recommendations from colleagues and friends.

There are several different types of hospital, including public and private hospitals. Some hospitals in the private sector are luxuriously appointed and could easily pass as five-star hotel accommodation. Their prices are at a similar level.

Most of Dubai’s private hospitals have an out-patients’ department and an accident and emergency unit, although casualties are likely to be directed towards public hospitals by the emergency services, e.g. in the case of road accidents.

The term ‘clinic’ is used to denote a general practitioner’s surgery.

There’s little overcrowding in hospitals and clinics in Dubai, where hospitals and major clinics are open 24 hours a day and usually operate on a first come, first served basis. Arabic and English are widely spoken, English being frequently used in private hospitals, where many staff and most patients are foreign. Accommodation in private hospitals is generally in single rooms rather than wards, and parents can stay with their children. Costs for accommodation vary considerably, according to whether a hospital is super-luxurious or more modest. Treatment costs usually vary according to the standard of accommodation. Dubai is served by excellent doctors, and there’s a high ratio of doctors to patients.

Dubai Health Authority

The Dubai Health Authority provides a vast array of services across different domains, both in the physical domain and online.

Health services are provided in three main hospitals (Dubai Hospital, Rashid Hospital and Al Wasl Hospital), in speciality centres and in Primary Health Care clinics, in addition to the online services provided to a vast community of users including the public, private health professionals, investors and others.

The directory of services lists the most important services that DHA provides. It is a primary reference point for the community members wondering about service access and usage information for both online and offline services.

Emergency Numbers:

Dubai Hospital       04 2195000
Rashid Hospital      04 2192000
Al Wasl Hospital     04 2193000
Customer Care      800342

Doctors

Doctors are administered either by the Ministry of Health. Many of Dubai’s doctors come from Europe, the USA, Egypt, India and Pakistan, and their qualifications are verified by the Ministries before they’re allowed to practise in the region. Alternative medicine practitioners aren’t as common as they are in Europe and the USA, and you should check that they’ve been given state registration before using them. On the other hand, there are excellent antenatal and obstetrics services throughout the region, in both the public and private sectors; if you don’t have private cover, the public services have a first class reputation.

Doctors are allowed to advertise and commonly do but it’s best to choose a doctor according to word-of-mouth recommendation. If you have private health cover, you can change your doctor as you feel necessary, make appointments easily and in some instances simply walk in and see a doctor. Doctor’s appointments in the public sector are normally given within 24 to 72 hours of the request. If making use of public health facilities, however, you’re recommended to attend in person to ensure that you obtain help quickly, rather than relying on the telephone appointment system. Surgery hours vary but there are always two periods, usually between 9am and 1pm, and from 5 to 8.30pm. A same-day appointment can usually be arranged, and in an emergency you will be seen very quickly.

A routine first diagnostic visit to a private doctor costs from AED 200 with additional costs for any tests required. Many private doctors are able to process simple blood and urine tests on their premises and usually have electro-cardiogram equipment. A call-out fee for a home visit increases costs and in some cases a night-time visit incurs a surcharge. If you’re referred to a specialist, costs can run to hundreds of dirhams. When you pay, you receive a receipt to claim from your insurers.

Dentists

As is the case with doctors, there are excellent dentists in Dubai, the vast majority of them foreign, particularly from Scandinavia, Britain and Russia. Dentists and orthodontists advertise in expatriate magazines and tourist guides. Most dentists in the region are private, although local nationals are sometimes treated at public hospitals. As with doctors and hospitals, ask for recommendations from friends and colleagues before choosing a dentist.
 

Surgery hours are generally 9am to 8pm, Saturdays to Thursdays, with some emergency provision. Many dentists have their own work rooms and technicians producing crowns, bridges and prosthetics, and this speeds up treatment. If you need extensive treatment, discuss a payment plan with your dentist to spread the cost over a period. If you’re insured, the insurers will require the dentist to fill out the appropriate paperwork; check that he does so properly.

Medicines:

Medicines are dispensed from pharmacies, which are denoted by a green cross.

Many medicines are available from pharmacies without prescription, including some that require a prescription in most western countries- many antibiotics can be bought over the counter as well. On the other hand, some medicines that can be bought without prescription in other countries require one in Dubai and you should check with a doctor. Most pharmacies also carry non-medical items, such as cosmetics and perfumes. General medicines, such as painkillers, cough medicine and eye drops, are widely available in supermarkets and larger stores.

Note, however, that Health Ministry in Dubai has banned the use of tranquillisers, anti-depressants and in some instances sleeping pills, except for extreme cases associated with certain types of mental illness. If you’re dependent on any of these medicines and carry them with you, you must ensure that you’re also carrying the doctor’s prescription and preferably a letter from your doctor confirming that you need them. You’re most unlikely to be able to obtain new supplies when in Dubai, so have enough for your requirements, but not so many that you could be suspected of carrying drugs for sale.
 

If you take a medicine on a regular basis, make sure that you know the content name and formula, not just the brand name, as many brand names vary from country to country and between manufacturers. You might have to renew your prescription from a local doctor, as many pharmacists aren’t authorised to accept foreign prescriptions.

Most pharmacies are open from 9.00 am to 10pm or later daily. A notice in the local press indicates the duty pharmacy open outside these times. Many hospitals have a 24-hour pharmacy, where you can obtain prescription and non-prescription medicines.

It’s important to obtain a receipt if you want to claim from your insurance. Medicines are quite expensive and there have been cases of over-prescribing in the private health sector, perhaps because of a link between the prescriber and the pharmacy.

Emergency Services:

If you’re a western expatriate, don’t expect Dubai’s emergency services and ambulances to be as efficient or widespread as in your home country.

Ambulance services exist (since end of 2009 Dubai even owns the world's largest ambulance) but these are usually controlled by the police (and used primarily for road accidents) or by the state hospitals. If you need to get to hospital quickly, the most reliable method is to use your own transport or go by taxi. This is common in the region. Even the victims of road accidents, if their injuries aren’t too severe, are often bundled into a car or taxi and taken to hospital. Police and emergency services are sometimes equipped with helicopter services, but these are only used for road accidents, beach accidents involving drowning and evacuations from difficult terrain.
 

On arrival in Dubai, you should immediately take note of the emergency telephone numbers, the location of the major hospitals and their facilities, and the quickest route to the nearest hospital with an accident and emergency department. Your work colleagues or friends can advise you about the best places to go. Keep the telephone number of a taxi service by the telephone in case your own transport is unavailable. Your private doctor will usually make house calls if requested in non-emergency cases.
 

To call an ambulance (or the police) in Dubai dial 999.

In the case of a medical emergency, observe the following procedure:

1. If you’re able to, go directly to the nearest hospital with an accident and emergency department.
2. If you don’t have your own transport and an ambulance service exists, call the ambulance number. The operator will be able to speak both Arabic and English and will respond in the language that you use. You will be asked to identify yourself and give your address; remember that you might have to give directions, using nearby landmarks rather than the street number. You will also be asked about the type of medical problem. If it’s life-threatening, such as a heart attack or a serious accident, make this clear.

3. Ask for an expected time of arrival of an ambulance and whether trained medical personnel will be in attendance. The answer might persuade you to call a taxi.
4. If calling a taxi, make sure that the driver or taxi company understands the urgency of the situation.

Nationals and foreign residents have access to state medical care, but need a health card.

Application forms for health cards are obtainable from clinics and from the Ministry of Health. Completed forms should be returned to the Rashid Hospital, with two passport photographs, your passport, two photocopies of your passport, a copy of your visa (employment or residency) and the appropriate fee. Expatriate workers tend to choose private treatment if they’re covered by the necessary medical insurance – private care can be very expensive.

There’s a large number of international companies specialising in private health insurance in Dubai and elsewhere. Comprehensive health insurance costs from around AED180  per month for regional coverage. However, price shouldn’t be your only consideration when comparing policies, and you should also consider the benefits of different policies.

As with all insurance, when taking out a health insurance policy do some homework and check the small print, particularly regarding what is and isn’t covered.

All policies include limitations and restrictions; for example, ‘pre-existing’ medical conditions are unlikely to be covered, certain occupations are often excluded or attract surcharges, and high-risk sports aren’t usually covered, although the definition of ‘high risk’ does vary from one insurer to another. Many companies also limit costs for a particular treatment within a calendar year, in addition to having an overall annual limit for all treatment. Be suspicious of policies that restrict the number of days that you’re allowed to spend in hospital.

There might be an upper age limit on acceptance for a scheme and, if you’re offered a private health policy that terminates at retirement, it would be wise to avoid it; if you’re forced to obtain a new policy at the age limit, it will be very difficult to find one at a reasonable premium – perhaps at all. Note that some companies terminate your policy at the end of the stipulated period if they believe that the costs they’ve incurred have become too high. If you’re purchasing an international policy, note also that some policies exclude cover in the USA, owing to high medical charges there. You can often pay to have different areas or types of cover added, but it might be expensive to do so.

Bear in mind that insurance companies can be very particular about their claim forms and are strict about them being filled out fully by the relevant doctor or dentist. Many medical professionals understandably find this tedious, but you must insist that it’s done to order.

Dental Insurance

Full dental insurance can be very expensive and if, you want extensive cover, you must purchase a gold standard health plan. Emergency fillings and extractions are normally included in standard health plans, but when it comes to more specialised treatment involving crowns, bridges and other prosthetics, the costs escalate substantially. Even gold standard policies have exclusions, sometimes with regard to the content of fillings, the number of visits to a dentist and the volume of work carried out in any year. Policyholders also need to check that cover includes x-rays and simple cleaning. Cosmetic procedures and children’s orthodontics aren’t included in most plans (if they are, the premiums are usually high).