Currently, of the 161 hospitals in the seven Emirates, 104 belong to the private sector while 57 are Government run. MOHAP is the acronym for the Ministry of Health and Prevention (of disease) and functions as regulator, overseer and visionary of healthcare in UAE. MOHAP sets high standards and accreditation by it is at par with the Joint Commission International Accreditation Standards for Hospitals (or JCI in short). 91.27% of the hospitals in the Emirates have qualified for MOHAP accreditation.
In effect this means that around 150 hospitals in UAE conform to the highest national standards for safety and quality of care and are committed to continually improving patient care. All are notable in one way or another. The criteria for selecting a hospital to go to for treatment can be any mix of:
- Accessibility
- Convenience
- Affordability (cost of treatment)
- Insurance issues
- The problem (type of disease/affliction)
- Strengths of a particular department for the specific problem
- Testimonials from patients who have been treated – for insights into nursing care and other observations
- Patient preferences and personal suitability (e.g. some seek a luxury experience – expenditure does not matter)
- Waiting times and availability of treatment
Still, we are covering some hospitals based on their suitability for a segment of patients. Medical tourists especially those from Africa are likely to find Dubai with its many connections the easiest destination to travel to – involves the least travel time, quickest grants of visa, saves expenses. In Dubai alone, there are 6 government hospitals and 39 private ones.
Al Jalila Children’s Specialty Hospital
200 bed Al Jalila Children’s is the first dedicated paediatric hospital in the United Arab Emirates. It became fully operational in 2016 with the goal of becoming one of the top 10 pediatric hospitals in the world and …“be the driving force behind the tertiary and quaternary care facility in the region.” It is cutting edge, uses SMART technology; operating the first robotic pharmacy in Dubai, and a fully automated laboratory and conducts much R&D work.
Designed with children in mind it features glow-in-the-dark walls, screens cartoon characters on the ceilings, provides open play spaces, and, in each patient room, an interactive touch screen enables the child to stay in with family and friends, play online games, access social media and educational portals. Facilities such as a study space in every inpatient room allow children under treatment to continue to pursue education. Even private tutors can be provided.
Rashid Hospital
Originally built in 1973, the Rashid Hospital adjacent to Dubai Creek is the city’s second oldest hospital, and specializes in trauma care. This DHA hospital now deals with some of the heaviest volumes of major trauma in the world with on average 3 to 5 cases of severe polytrauma (multiple injury) presenting each day. On average it evaluates more than 500 patients a day.
It has 10 ambulance bays, 2 helipads, 4 resuscitation units for evacuation of the injured and was the first to operate a STAT Scanner in the region. It has the capability to conduct every kind of surgery and its surgeons are most experienced. All government hospitals such as Al Kuwait Hospital and Rashid Hospital offer free emergency treatment in Dubai.
Fakeeh University Hospital
This smart medical university cum hospital located in the Dubai Silicon Oasis opened in April 2021. It is a 350-bed smart facility for primary, secondary, and tertiary care across 55 specialties and capable of handling patient loads of 700,000 patients a year, serving communities in the UAE and the wider region.
It is a private sector initiative by the Saudi group – Fakeeh Care. Equipped with the latest in SMART technology; one obvious strength is its diagnostic capability. Others are its advanced data-assisted and automated medication dispensing systems. This includes the state-of-the-art robotic pharmacy and FUH Care – the mobile app developed to provide easy access at a patient’s fingertips. It also features advanced operating theaters, and radiology units. Its departments are designed for rapid patient transfer from section to section to save vital time.
It also happens to be the first teaching hospital in Dubai. The university will offer courses in nursing and medicine, as well as allied health sciences such as physical therapy and emergency care training, till postgraduate levels.
Another feature is the hospital’s eight delivery stations. Expectant mothers are provided exceptional care through every stage of delivery.
Mirdif Hospital
This is a privately owned and operated 160 bed hospital of the high-end kind class located in the Midrif district of Dubai. The facility is multi-specialty and began operation at the end of 2021. Modern and well equipped, the hospital has a 24/7 Emergency department besides offering 45 medical and surgical specialties, ICU care for adults, NICU care for newborns, PICU care for children, and Radiology and Laboratory department with the latest imaging and diagnostic technologies.
With its range of luxury suites and staff who are fluent in many languages it is well positioned for catering to the well heeled medical tourist. It is already well known among the more affluent expat set. Delivery Packages for expectant mothers range from 17,000 Dirhams to 27,000. Esoteric procedures like bariatric surgery for surplus adipose removal, cosmetic dentistry, diet and nutrition solutions, robotic joint replacements for hip and knee are also specialities on its menu. As is specialised dermatology: profhilo, botox treatment, fillers, meso-whitening, amber injections, acne scar treatment and Royal Rejuvenation injections.
Fujairah is the seventh-largest city in UAE, across the landmass of the UAE over the Hajar Mountains and located on the Gulf of Oman (part of the Indian Ocean). It is the only Emirati capital city on the UAE’s east coast. Accordingly for them and neighbours also on the east the best choice could be:
Thumbay Hospital, Fujairah
As a group Thumbay own and operate a chain of 11 hospitals, mostly in the UAE but one even in Hyderabad India. They are well known for being good value for money – undoubtedly competent in their healthcare dispensed at affordable prices. They are heavily into medical tourism.
The former GMC Hospital, Fujairah is now Thumbay Hospital, Fujairah, a well equipped multispecialty hospital supported by highly qualified and experienced doctors, technicians and trained nurses. It is both MOHAP and JCI accredited and a range of options from VIP rooms, deluxe rooms, and general Wards, to packages for inpatient services, pharmacy, physiotherapy & traction, and all types of surgeries. Testimonials of patients appear to reflect much satisfaction. Word of mouth testimony has made them well known in Nigeria.
Many JCI accredited hospitals are to be found in Sharjah and Abu Dhabi. These include:
Zulekha Hospital Sharjah
This 185 bed hospital offers advanced radiology and laboratory services, state-of-art modular operating theatres, a cardiac catheterization laboratory, and a dialysis facility. It is medical tourism oriented and arranges transfers, places to stay for attendants, and interpreters. Its features: ICUs including Neonatal ICUs; minimally invasive surgeries; bariatric procedures, joint replacement, special cancer care, cardio-thoracic and vascular procedures, as well as plastic and reconstructive surgeries.
NMC Royal Women’s Hospital Abu Dhabi
100 bed comfortable facility. Features: Advanced Neonatal Intensive Care Units (Level 3) with high-end technology and latest equipment to treat preterm babies
The NICU ward at the hospital has advanced incubators to care for infants of all gestational ages and weights with mechanical ventilation support
Burjeel Medical City Abu Dhabi
Spread over a vast tract, the Hospital operates an International Patient Services Team for caring for international patients. It arranges for their transits, places to stay for attendants, and interpreters. Provides 7-star hospitality and has 338 luxurious rooms for patients. The Medicity campus also houses the Burjeel Cancer Institute consisting of centers for breast, urological, skin, blood and brain cancers.
On a closing note we would like to point out that the Thalassemia and Genetics Center located in the Latifa Hospital (formery Al Wasl) is a leading center in the field in the Middle East.