Most residents are happy with UAE health care standards

Based on their last experience, the YouGov survey found that 84 per cent of those who had visited a health care centre were satisfied with the service provided.

Omaima Labdi, 30, with her daughter Meera, 11 months. Ms Labdi says health care is better in Jordan. Mona Al Marzooqi / The National

ABU DHABI // The overwhelming majority of UAE residents are happy with the standard of care in hospitals and healthcare clinics.

On average, respondents visited a clinic, hospital or health care provider one or two times in the last 12 months.

Based on their last experience, 84 per cent of those said they were satisfied with the provider overall.

“While obviously the goal is to get to 95 per cent, absolutely we should welcome these results,” said Ryder Smith, head of Middle East health at PricewaterhouseCoopers.

This goal is an achievable one, he said.

As more private companies flock to the UAE then the competition will continue to drive up the standard of service.

While only physicians will be able to quantify the success of treatment, a patient’s experience can be measured across the board, he said.

This is from the moment a patient parks their car, is met at reception all the way until he leaves, said Mr Smith.

Respondents said that, overall, they were satisfied with the provider’s physical aspects, such as cleanliness and upkeep of premises (82 per cent) and medical equipment used for diagnosis and treatment (83 per cent) and the skills and competency of the doctors/nursing/medical staff (81 per cent).

Lisa Stephens, executive director of Arab Health, the largest health care exhibition and medical congress in the Middle East, welcomed the results.

“As part of the UAE’s 2021 Vision, the UAE commits to continually building world class infrastructure, expertise and service,” she said.

“The UAE is continuing to actively expand its national health care system to meet the growing needs of its people. It has established a health care infrastructure which is increasingly recognised as on par with international standards.”

Despite the positive feedback, many residents had a gripe about how long it took to get an appointment with a doctor or the length of time they had to wait at a hospital or clinic to get seen.

About half of those polled said they were unhappy with waiting times to get an appointment and to see be seen by medical staff, while 56 per cent were not satisfied about the complaint handing process.

Abu Dhabi resident Raul Salvador, 30, said he last visited a hospital seven months ago for a medical check up for work.

He said he found the experience good but said the waiting times could be improved.

“There was a long queue at registration,” he said.

Gemma Raed has been living in Abu Dhabi for three years. She works as a promoter in the emirate.

“I visit a doctor every month at a private hospital,” said the 23-year-old Filipina.

“I find the services good and I am happy with the hospital however sometimes I do have to wait to get an appointment.

“My concern is that when I turn up for the appointment I still have to wait for an hour on some days.”

Not everyone was satisfied with the service they have received.

Omaima Labdi lives in Abu Dhabi and said she would like to see better standards of health care in the emirate. The 30-year-old prefers services in her home country of Jordan.

“I don’t like the health care facilities in UAE and have had terrible experiences at hospitals in Abu Dhabi.

“You have to wait for a month to get an appointment. I gave birth to my daughter at one hospital and it was horrible.

“My daughter, Meera is 11 months old and she had fever last week. I took her to a private hospital and the doctors just wouldn’t pay attention. I had to scream at the staff there as my child was unwell and no one was bothered.”