Space project is beneficial in every sense

UAE's space project will have multiple benefits, readers say. Other topics: medical services, traffic congestion, car makeover, animals

Readers say the UAE’s project will have long-term benefits for the country and region as a whole. Kamran Jebreili / AP Photo

The space project will bring many benefits to this country (Middle East's first space research centre to open in Al Ain, May 26). It will spawn scientific discoveries and spur technological innovations, two critical components for competing in the global economy. It's no wonder that countries such as India and China are ramping up their own programmes.

Nitin Patgaonkar, India

The space project is quite a bold and worthy venture, and will be money well spent. Congratulations on this positive initiative.

Komar L, Abu Dhabi

Let’s have smart medical services

Your editorial Towards a smart medical system (May 25) highlights the obvious benefits that will accrue from the synchronisation of medical records. Conversely though, access to medical services is being reduced, possibly even undermined by recent administrative changes. For the past 18 months, I have been undergoing tests for muscular disease at Al Ain hospital.

The system was working well and the staff have been excellent. I have been seen by neurologists, neurosurgeons and orthopaedic doctors as they try to unravel my symptoms.

I have even paid roughly Dh12,000 for a biopsy to be analysed in America. This was something that I was very willing to do in order to understand the disease.

However, things have changed from January and numerous doctors have apologetically told me that I cannot have a clinical appointment in the morning and that every clinic has an overall quota for non-locals. This has translated into an eight-month wait to see the surgeon who conducted the biopsy for him to ensure the wound is healing.

Providing access to unified medical records is a great step forward.

Providing information on where we can access those services on an equal footing – even by payment – is more fundamental.

Ray Adcock, Al Ain

Build circular highways

Regarding the news report Dubai to implement new traffic control systems this year, May 20), one idea that can ease traffic bottlenecks is a fast circular highway around a city, as in Riyadh and Moscow. Instead of going through the city, you can get to any point with great ease, from anywhere on the circular highway.

Yasse C, Dubai

Car owners, check spelling

I was amused to read Afshan Ahmed's blogpost Porsche's makeover by Dubai mechanic leaves owner with a Porshce (May 28).

Once, I took my car, a Nissan Altima, to get repainted at Earl Scheib and returned with an Altmia. I guess I got what I paid for.

Matthew Boyer, Dubai

I once bought a car through a website for way less than it was worth, because it was a Mecedes Wagon as opposed to its cousin Mercedes.

Katherine Shealy, Dubai

Why put lives of animals at risk?

Using stray animals to reduce accidents doesn't seem to be a feasible idea (Glow-in-the-dark animals will prevent road accidents in Umm Al Quwain, May 27).

Why have poor animals wear vests when the problem is recklessness and speeding? In most accidents, drivers see the stray animals in time but are unable to control the car or swerve to avoid them on account of the high speeds involved. It is the drivers who need training.

Fatima Suhail, Sharjah