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Filipina discharged from hospital, but where to go?

Hospital authorities said that Arlene was now fit enough to visit as an outpatient but could no longer be kept in hospital.

Arlene’s mother, Nora, who flew in from the Philippines to be with her daughter, said that though she has no permanent place to take her daughter to after being discharged, she will set up temporary residence with a relative.

“I am in a fix because I can neither clear the hospital bill fully and leave the country, nor can I take her to a comfortable place,” she explains.

Hospital authorities, however, claim that by law, the sponsor is required to take care of Arlene. “We have tried our best to accommodate her but we are a hospital and not a hotel. We feel that she is fit enough to leave hospital and come for physiotherapy as an outpatient,” said a hospital representative yesterday.

The spokesperson also said that the complete settlement of the bill would be discussed later.

“There is a possibility that we might never ever get the payment, but we cannot confirm any action at the moment,” said the spokesperson.

The hospital has already waived off nearly half of Arlene’s bill which is now Dh25,000 after the waiver.

Arlene’s sponsor has also paid an amount of Dh175,000 and has expressed his inability to contribute any more, except providing her with the ticket back home.

Nora said that she could not get in touch with her daughter’s sponsors as they were out of the country but were expected back soon.

“Even the Philippines consulate has not responded to her pleas, as yet,” she said.

Arlene had collapsed on January 22. Doctors at a local hospital diagnosed her as suffering from aneurysm (brain haemorrhage).

Arlene’s sponsor could not be reached for comments, while officials from the Philippines consulate in Dubai said they were still looking into the matter.

• UAE