UMM AL QUWAIN // A short journey north on Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Road, it is a similar story to Ajman, where the relative proximity of Dubai makes it difficult for hospitals to retain doctors.
Mahmoud Ahmad, 26, a Palestinian sales engineer who has lived in Umm Al Quwain all his life, said that, although they have UAQ Hospital, not everything is available there so patients sometimes need to travel to Sharjah or Dubai for surgery.
“UAQ Hospital is old in the emirate, not because it doesn’t have services and medical equipment, but due to the lack of numbers of doctors,” Mr Ahmad said.
“My friend’s father was admitted to the hospital to have open-heart surgery but was transferred to a hospital in Sharjah because there was no doctor to do it.”
Ahmed Azzam, 27, an Emirati soldier from UAQ, said that UAQ Hospital was better than Sheikh Khalifa Hospital in UAQ, because waiting times are shorter.
“One day, I spent an hour and a half at the department to see the doctor and get a prescription and another time I took my grandfather to Sheikh Khalifa Hospital, where he spent a long time waiting,” Mr Azzam said. “He started getting annoyed and tired because he is old and can’t wait for a long time.”
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Read more:
› Sharjah residents worried about losing loved ones on commutes to hospitals
› Lack of doctors in A&E causes concern for Ajman residents
› Healthcare services are improving in the Northern Emirates
› Fujairah resident: 'I feel helpless if a family member gets ill'
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