Health Care in Abu Dhabi

Health care is obviously a priority for anyone setting up home in a foreign country – especially for expats with young families or preexisting medical conditions. It can be quite daunting arriving in a new city with a completely different medical and dental system, with no knowledge of costs and no idea where and how to get treated should anything go wrong. Read on for information on hospitals, 24-hour pharmacies and details of where to get first-rate dental treatment.

Jet lag:

Jet lag can be a real blow when you first arrive in a new country. The  uncomfortable combination of insomnia and exhaustion occurs when you travel across time zones and your body clock tries to adjust itself to the new time. It can be frustrating to feel full of energy one minute and the next be overwhelmed by fatigue and irritability, particularly when having just moved to a new city, you’ve got so much to do. It can take anything between a day and a week to recover, and for your body to adjust itself to your new time zone. Every frequent traveller has his or her own way of dealing with jet lag, but conventional wisdom says to try and fit in with local time as quickly as possible – in other words, force yourself to stay awake until bedtime, and make yourself get out of bed at a reasonable hour in the morning. Stay hydrated and avoid sleeping pills or alcohol if you can, as these will probably disrupt your sleeping patterns and make your body take even longer to naturally adjust itself. For kids, jet lag can be really tough, although they are often affected less than adults and being strict about their new bedtimes will help them get through it. If you find they’re getting sleepy during the day, try and distract them with outdoor exercise – not only will this perk them up, but exposure to sunlight gives the body the signals it needs to get back on track. At the end of the day, just  remember that it’s a very temporary condition, and you and your family will feel normal again in no time at all.

Drinking water:

Be prepared to start drinking a lot of water. Abu Dhabi’s combination of tremendous heat most of the year, a dry, dusty environment and  air conditioners cranked up to the max inside every building and vehicle  means water is being sucked from your body all the time. It’s hard to get  used to drinking as much water as you need – especially at first when you’re not used to the conditions. But aim for your usual 6-8 glasses plus two or three extra. Common early signs of dehydration are dizziness, irritability, headaches and dry eyes, skin and mouth. Just pay extra attention to how you’re feeling and keep a bottle of water on you at all times. Tap water in Abu Dhabi is desalinated and drinkable, but most people stick to bottled mineral water as it tastes much better. If you’re living in a very old building and the tap water tastes off-putting, trust your instincts and stick to bottled, as some of the water tanks and pipes aren’t maintained as well as they should be,  which can lead to contaminated water.

Food:

You can feel quite confident about food safety in both restaurants and supermarkets in Abu Dhabi. Cleanliness and preparation standards are high. Even Abu Dhabi’s street food – essentially kebabs and shawarmas (sandwich wraps of chips and shaved slices of meat from huge skewers) – is prepared and served quickly at high temperatures, so go ahead and sample whatever you fancy. That said, it’s common for newcomers to the city to be susceptible to the new germs and bacteria in the capital’s food, so you might find yourself with an upset tummy now and again. However, this is true of almost any international move, and it’s just a matter of building up your immune system in the new environment.

Emergencies – hospitals and dental care:

The city has many public and private hospitals, both of which offer world-class treatment. If you require treatment, be sure to have your  health card with you, as you’ll need it, along with proof of insurance, to open a file at a hospital in the city, and only emergency cases are offered (very limited) free treatment – any follow-up treatment will have to be paid for or covered by your insurance. Reputable public hospitals include Al Mafraq Hospital (near Mafraq Hotel, 02 582 3100), which specialises in kidney transplants and open heart surgery; Corniche Hospital (Corniche Road, near Sheraton Hotel, 02 672 4900), which is the maternity hospital of choice; and Sheikh Khalifa Medical City (Bateen Street, Al Manhal, 02 610 2000, www.skmc.gov.ae), which has a good reputation and boasts a well-equipped emergency department and a burns unit.

As for private hospitals, one of the expats’ most trusted is Al Noor Hospital, which has a state-of-the-art cardio care unit, 24-hour GP and emergency service, and even a Chinese medicine department. Many branches offer top-notch dental care from specialist orthodontists, so you can get anything from a filling to braces. Dental care is not usually covered by your insurance and is always unavoidably pricey, although considering the high standard of care, treatment in Abu Dhabi is not as expensive as in many Western countries. For example, a root canal will set you back Dhs1,000 (around USD270). Main branches of Al Noor Hospital include Airport Road (02 444 6655) and Khalifa Street (02 626 5265). Visit www.alnoorhospital.com for a full list of branches and services. Another private hospital is Al Salama, which offers 24-hour medical services, including cardiology, urology and neurology, and has a large radiology department. It also offers dental care, and is centrally located at Dr Abdullah Al Nuwais Building, Hamdan Street, Tourist Club Area (02 671 1220, www.alsalamahospital.com).

Pharmacies:

Abu Dhabi has a wealth of pharmacies, many of which sell medication – including antibiotics – without a prescription. Many pharmacies close by 10pm, although for those new to the city, Abu Dhabi Government’s website (www.abudhabi.ae) is a useful resource, containing medical advice as well as a complete list of 24-hour pharmacies in all parts of Abu Dhabi. These include, among others, Modern Urban Pharmacy on Electra Street (02 676 6496); Rima Pharmacy on Nadja Street, behind the Honda showroom (02 674 4214); and Liwa Hospital Pharmacy on Liwa Hospital Street, Al Markaziyah (02 882 2204).

Insurance:

Recent changes by the Ministry of Health have improved Abu Dhabi’s Health Care drastically, and you can now be sure of a service to match  that of any other of the emirates, a choice between public and private hospitals and first-rate dental care. Changes have also been made to medical insurance. Only a few years ago, the residency application process  involved obtaining a health card that entitled you to use government hospital facilities. Now, however, it’s compulsory for your employer to provide your health insurance for you, your spouse and up to three children, with the type of policy and coverage depending on your salary. The medical card application is usually done at the same time as your visa application, and your employer will give you details of anything you need to provide to complete the process – such as your passport, passport photocopies and passport-size photographs.

Your medical card should cover you in all government hospitals; however, any treatment obtained at a private hospital will have to be paid for. Dental  care is rarely covered by your basic medical insurance, so should you want more comprehensive coverage, you’ll have to foot the bill to take out a policy privately. There are 35 health insurance companies operating in Abu Dhabi, and you’re entitled to choose which one you use for coverage. The Health Authority Abu Dhabi website (www.haad.ae) is a useful resource for expats, offering a full list of Health Care and health insurance providers, as  well as details of the laws surrounding health insurance. Be warned that hospitals will only give you very basic free treatment in the event of an emergency – any standard care or follow-up tests and treatment will have to be paid for, and medical care in Abu Dhabi can be very expensive, so it’s best to get yourself covered as soon as possible. Indeed, new residents are often advised to have some sort of travel or medical insurance in place until their company or sponsor has sorted out the paperwork and their medical card has been issued, which can take a few months.

If you require treatment, present your health card at any participating hospital, surgery, clinic or pharmacy. Treatment is free if it falls under the area covered by your insurance, and prescriptions will often be discounted. It’s best to make sure you know what is and isn’t covered by your insurance before seeking out treatment, as medical care can be incredibly costly. All the details of your policy should be provided by your employer.

Should you be dissatisfied with your health insurance and wish to make a complaint or suggestion, you can email the  health authority at healthcentre@haad.ae, or call 800 555 toll-free.

Health certificates:

UAE nationals and residents requiring a health certificate can obtain one from any of Abu Dhabi’s public hospitals. Visitors are not required to provide a health certificate when entering the country, unless arriving from areas with cholera or yellow fever.