ABU DHABI — People usually pause for a while and make a quick evaluation of their budget before they go ahead with a plan to buy new things — be they clothes, furniture or home appliances. But when it comes to health needs, the equation is different. The first thing they often ponder over is where they would get quality medical care — in the public or private sector.
To know which sector people prefer and trust more and the reasons behind their preference, Khaleej Times met with a group of people from different professions and nationalities.
The majority of them said they go to the private institutions to get quick, good and special medical care for ailments which they believe are not very serious and do not require much medical attention or expertise.
For cosmetic plastic surgeries, which are considered to be a luxury, the majority think with its state-of-the-art medical devices and equipment, the private health sector is a safe bet.
Expertise, experience, professionalism and confidence are the qualities people attribute to the public sector hospitals, especially for handling complicated cases that usually require long-term medical intervention.
Grace Everts, a Filipino national, thinks that the private sector provides her with special medical care whenever she needs it and expressed her admiration for the medical equipment used in this sector.
“I believe that the private hospitals and clinics provide special care. The fact that they use modern equipment also encourages me to go to them. However, I also believe that the doctors in the government hospitals have good experience and knowledge about critical health conditions,” Everts said.
Heathen Salih Al Juhari, a university student and UAE national, said: “The government hospitals are very good. It provides quality services, especially for cases that need sensitive surgeries because doctors have good experience. The private hospitals are good in terms of saving time and avoiding long queues. Some people might feel more comfortable in the private hospitals because the equipment used are modern.”
Abdul Samad from India appreciates the easy accessibility to the private hospitals and their doctors but said he prefers to go to the government hospitals if he or a member of his family has a serious health condition.
“The private sector is good in terms of easy access to doctors and shorter waiting period. The services are okay and satisfactory for common ailments. The public health sector, I believe, is better if people need treatment for serious conditions that require experience and professionalism. I will approach a government hospital myself in such a case.”
Rasha Ahmed, a Lebanese woman, said: “I think the private sector has introduced advanced technologies like laser for cosmetic and plastic surgeries which are not found in the government sector.”
Dr Ibrahim Al Qadi, Director of the Private Medical Practice at the Ministry of Health (MoH), said his department had adopted certain measures to shore up confidence among patience about the private hospitals and clinics.
“A new inspection strategy chalked out by the MoH to monitor performance of private medical institutions countrywide will be implemented,” said Dr Qadi.
He said the move aimed to plug loopholes and reduce breaches of the regulations.
The strategy would focus on ensuring compliance with the regulations like display of rates, maintaining of patients’ records, sticking to hygienic standards, validity of licence and legality of medical and technical cadres employed at the private medical centres, he said.
“Another area which we will focus on to improve services in the private health sector is the qualifications and experience of medical cadres hired by these institutions.
“Licensed doctors at the private clinics have to undergo certain accredited hours of the Continued Medical Education (CME) programme to ensure their efficiency. The doctors who fail to live up to this condition will not have their licence renewed,” said Dr Qadi.He noted that the demand for medical care in private institutions had increased, “prompting the MoH to adopt efficient control and follow-up measures to ensure quality services”.
To know which sector people prefer and trust more and the reasons behind their preference, Khaleej Times met with a group of people from different professions and nationalities.
The majority of them said they go to the private institutions to get quick, good and special medical care for ailments which they believe are not very serious and do not require much medical attention or expertise.
For cosmetic plastic surgeries, which are considered to be a luxury, the majority think with its state-of-the-art medical devices and equipment, the private health sector is a safe bet.
Expertise, experience, professionalism and confidence are the qualities people attribute to the public sector hospitals, especially for handling complicated cases that usually require long-term medical intervention.
Grace Everts, a Filipino national, thinks that the private sector provides her with special medical care whenever she needs it and expressed her admiration for the medical equipment used in this sector.
“I believe that the private hospitals and clinics provide special care. The fact that they use modern equipment also encourages me to go to them. However, I also believe that the doctors in the government hospitals have good experience and knowledge about critical health conditions,” Everts said.
Heathen Salih Al Juhari, a university student and UAE national, said: “The government hospitals are very good. It provides quality services, especially for cases that need sensitive surgeries because doctors have good experience. The private hospitals are good in terms of saving time and avoiding long queues. Some people might feel more comfortable in the private hospitals because the equipment used are modern.”
Abdul Samad from India appreciates the easy accessibility to the private hospitals and their doctors but said he prefers to go to the government hospitals if he or a member of his family has a serious health condition.
“The private sector is good in terms of easy access to doctors and shorter waiting period. The services are okay and satisfactory for common ailments. The public health sector, I believe, is better if people need treatment for serious conditions that require experience and professionalism. I will approach a government hospital myself in such a case.”
Rasha Ahmed, a Lebanese woman, said: “I think the private sector has introduced advanced technologies like laser for cosmetic and plastic surgeries which are not found in the government sector.”
Dr Ibrahim Al Qadi, Director of the Private Medical Practice at the Ministry of Health (MoH), said his department had adopted certain measures to shore up confidence among patience about the private hospitals and clinics.
“A new inspection strategy chalked out by the MoH to monitor performance of private medical institutions countrywide will be implemented,” said Dr Qadi.
He said the move aimed to plug loopholes and reduce breaches of the regulations.
The strategy would focus on ensuring compliance with the regulations like display of rates, maintaining of patients’ records, sticking to hygienic standards, validity of licence and legality of medical and technical cadres employed at the private medical centres, he said.
“Another area which we will focus on to improve services in the private health sector is the qualifications and experience of medical cadres hired by these institutions.
“Licensed doctors at the private clinics have to undergo certain accredited hours of the Continued Medical Education (CME) programme to ensure their efficiency. The doctors who fail to live up to this condition will not have their licence renewed,” said Dr Qadi.He noted that the demand for medical care in private institutions had increased, “prompting the MoH to adopt efficient control and follow-up measures to ensure quality services”.