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RESIDENTS WARY OF LOCALLY AVAILABLE MEDICINE

Several people and doctors agree that a lack of trust and the high cost of health services are forcing people to seek treatment either back home or abroad. "Such cases are common because the UAE government itself encourages locals to go abroad for treatment," says Dr Fadi Hussain, a General Practitioner in a government hospital in Sharjah. "For locals, more than trust, it has became a matter of luxury and enjoyment," he added.

Some point out that the concept of a family physician does not exist in the UAE. "I have known my doctor back home since I was a child and I can trust his judgement confidently," says Philip Hogan. "He knows my family history and background, and therefore, I am satisfied," he adds.

But Dr Salman Siddique, a GP, believes that such notions are typical of blue-collar workers. "I don't think the less educated workers consider such matters, " he adds. Explaining the reason, he says this mistrust can basically be due to linguistic and ethnic barriers, especially in government hospitals where people hesitate to be admitted.

Highlighting a recent case that he had treated, Dr Siddique says, "A man came to me with severe appendicitis pain, and an immediate surgery had to be done but he resisted it and asked for a shot that could keep him going for some hours till he flew back to his home country.” He also says that doctors here have less people to treat than elsewhere, leaving them less experienced. "Rare surgeries are becoming rarer in the UAE, " he adds. "I went to a government hospital for my delivery, but throughout my antenatals, different doctors kept attending to me. I was identified as a mere file each time I visited the hospital, and this made be apprehensive," says Susanne K. "I am not even sure who performed my Caesarian suction. I for sure know that for my next delivery, I will go back to my home country because I will be able to consult a single doctor, and trust her opinion," she adds.

"Only emergency cases are being operated upon in the UAE and even they have become rare after government hospitals increased the fees. For elective surgeries such as deliveries, and other conditions that can wait, most people do prefer to fly back to their home countries, " says Dr Hussain.

Giving another reason, Dr R. Kumar from the Obstetrics and Gynaecology Department in Al Wasl Hospital says that most expatriates were habituated to having families around them during treatment. "Since the fee has increased in government hospitals, people prefer spending the same amount on tickets rather than being treated here in isolation". "In several kinds of treatments, the UAE is much advanced and there are no infections due to the high standards of hygiene here," she added.