The Department of Health in Abu Dhabi has announced that the Medical Committee of the Department of Treatment Abroad has issued, since the beginning of 2018 until the middle of this year, 754 treatment decisions abroad, noting that the period of time to decide on requests for urgent treatment, not exceeding 48 hours, a maximum since the receipt of the request , Including public holidays, while the duration of non-urgent applications ranges from a maximum of five to seven working days, and the duration of the dispatch depends on the situation. Responding to complaints received by the UAE Today, the Department confirmed that the Department refused to approve their requests, despite medical reports indicating that they need to travel and complete treatment outside the UAE - that they are working to ensure the provision of health care services in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, through Intensify its efforts to attract expertise and provide services at the local level. If treatment and health care are not available in government and semi-government health facilities within the emirate, the Department of Treatment Abroad, as the competent authority in the Department of Health Abu Dhabi, sends patients to a select group of hospitals around the world to ensure that the patient receives the necessary treatment at the best level. This includes the provision of all medical, administrative and financial services.
The Department indicated that the mechanism for approving requests for treatment outside the State, includes the medical committee of the Department of Treatment abroad to identify cases that require dispatch abroad, through a medical committee composed of a selection of doctors consultants in various medical specialties, and take appropriate decisions that are in the interest of Patient.
According to statistics, incurable and rare cancers, which require high-tech techniques, such as eye cancer, are the leading causes of outward dispatch, followed by neurosurgery and blood diseases that require bone marrow transplantation. The statistics also show that, according to strategic contracts for capacity-building and bridging gaps, the most dispatched countries are the United States, followed by South Korea, Spain and France.
The Department stressed that the cost of treatment is not determined outside the country, but is keen to monitor the average cost per patient. The length of time the patient will remain outside the country for treatment depends on his or her condition.
She said that the efforts devoted by the Department of Treatment abroad contributed to reduce the average length of stay for treatment abroad to 80 days this year, compared to 120 days last year, pointing out that it allows the patient abroad to accompany, according to approved regulations, and bear the cost of travel And daily allocation.
Follow-up of patients abroad
The Department of Health in Abu Dhabi has confirmed its keenness in determining the medical facilities in which patients are transferred for treatment to enhance the experience of patients abroad, and to provide the highest quality and safety until their safe return to the UAE, through a leading system in the management and coordination of treatment abroad, including Patients to a bouquet of the best leading health service providers, university hospitals around the world. It also confirmed the recent signing of 31 coordination agreements with the best healthcare providers. In the coming period, she said, she will sign and renew 35 coordinating agreements with selected healthcare providers to enhance the experience of patients sent abroad for treatment and ensure the best quality of healthcare.
The Department stressed the follow-up of patients while receiving treatment abroad, through the Department of Operations, which operates around the clock. It also provides toll free numbers for patients from all over the world, to follow up their affairs in coordination and direct contact with doctors inside and outside the country.
• The length of time the patient stays outside the country for treatment depends on his or her condition.