All private hospitals in Abu Dhabi are now free of coronavirus cases

(Representational image)

All private sector healthcare facilities in Abu Dhabi were declared free of Covid-19 cases on Friday. This marks a major step in the Capital's road to recovery from the pandemic.
A total of 17 hospitals - nine under VPS Healthcare, seven NMC Healthcare and Ain Al Khaleej Hospital - have all discharged their last patients. However, those suffering from any respiratory symptoms have been asked to visit specialised hospitals designated for Covid-19 cases in Sheikh Khalifa Medical City and Al Ain Hospital.
Last month, Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, Healthpoint and Imperial College London Diabetes Centre, Mediclinic hospitals in Abu Dhabi and Al Ain said they were free of coronavirus cases.

Dr Shamsheer Vayalil, chairman and managing director, VPS Healthcare, said it was a privilege to have supported the UAE leadership during the pandemic.
Also read: UAE reports 473 new cases, 399 recoveries
"The nation has done a commendable job in flattening the curve. The number of cases has come down significantly as part of the health department's ongoing efforts in conducting massive testing, early detection and treatment mechanisms."

VPS Healthcare had dedicated its newest facility Burjeel Medical City for the cause. About 400 inpatient rooms were arranged in the yet-to-be opened facility in Abu Dhabi's Mohammed bin Zayed City for treating Covid-19 patients. A full-fledged RT-PCR laboratory was also set up in the quaternary care hospital with an initial capacity of 150 per day to test 5,000 samples daily.

Burjeel Hospital, Medeor Hospital, LLH Hospital in Abu Dhabi City, Lifecare Hospital and LLH Hospital in Musaffah, Lifecare Hospital in Baniyas, Burjeel Royal Hospital and Medeor International Hospital in Al Ain are other facilities to become Covid-19 free.
Back to normalcy'
Michael Davis, CEO, NMC Healthcare, said now the hospitals can focus on patients suffering from other complexities.
"Achieving Covid-19 free status will be welcomed by anxious patients who waited weeks for procedures that were important. Hernia repair, cancer operations, knee replacements, IVF treatment and even a staged cosmetic surgery are among the wide range of elective surgeries that come with varying degrees of complexity and urgency."
NMC Specialty Hospital, NMC Royal Hospital, Khalifa City, NMC Royal Women's Hospital, Bareen International Hospital, Fakih IVF, NMC Provita and Americare, and all medical centres have now resumed normal services.
"From a patient's perspective, it's frustrating knowing that their surgery is absolutely needed and because of where we are in the world right now with the coronavirus, everything is at a halt. From the industry point of view, shutting down elective surgeries and only focusing on Covid-19 patients had led to layoffs, furloughs and pay cuts across the health-care sector. After weeks and months of delays, hospitals and surgery centres faced mounting financial pressure and a backlog of patients. Let's all focus now on bringing life back to normalcy," Davis added.

• Abu Dhabi

Ashwani Kumar

Ashwani Kumar is a versatile journalist who explores every beat in Abu Dhabi with an insatiable curiosity. He loves uncovering stories that are informative and help readers form their own opinions.

ashwani@khaleejtimes.com