Dubai hospitals offering complete wellness packages

The Dubai Health Authority has introduced packages screening women, men, senior citizens and adolescents to check for markers for potential diseases.

DUBAI // Tourists and residents can buy a complete check-up at government hospitals and healthcare centres.

The Dubai Health Authority has introduced packages screening women, men, senior citizens and adolescents for disease markers.

“Patients and people don’t have to feel sick to go to the doctor,” Dr Manal Taryam, chief executive of Primary Healthcare at the DHA, said at Arab Health.

“We are trying to catch this before it actually happens. The minute you can detect the markers you can treat the disease before it becomes a disease.”

Packages for men and women comprise consultation, lab tests and other diagnostics.

The women’s package includes a gynaecologist consultation and tests including blood tests, Pap smear and mammogram.

The senior citizens’ package consists of tests including lipid profile, liver profile, bone scans and chest X-rays. It also provides them with vaccines such as those for hepatitis and flu.

The men’s and the women’s packages are priced at Dh1,800, the adolescent package Dh1,300 and the senior citizens’ package costs Dh2,100.

Dr Muna Tahlak, chief executive of Latifa Hospital in Dubai, described the check-ups as like a vehicle roadworthiness check-up on your body in a one-stop shop.

Tests can be done in as little as 45 minutes.

“We are living in an era where we are living fast-paced,” she said. “You have to have your life in check.”

She said there had already been interest in people buying health packages as a gift for friends. “If you care about someone you can purchase a package for them.”

Essa Al Maidoor, head of the Dubai Health Authority, said the packages furthered Dubai’s ambition to become the top destination for medical tourism.

He said 150,000 medical tourists came to Dubai last year.