Coronavirus in UAE: DHA suspends ayurveda, homeopathy, non-urgent dental services

Top Stories

coronavirus, covid-19, DHA, dubai health authority

Dubai - A circular has been issued to all hospitals and clinics.

By Saman Haziq

  • Follow us on
  • google-news
  • whatsapp
  • telegram

Published: Wed 25 Mar 2020, 2:27 PM

Last updated: Wed 25 Mar 2020, 10:21 PM

The Dubai Health Authority (DHA) has instructed all health facilities in the emirate to temporarily suspend all alternative medicine services such as ayurveda, homeopathy, naturopathy, Chinese needles, herbal medicine, Greek medicine, etc. "until further notice".

In a revised advisory circular issued to all hospitals and clinics, a copy of which Khaleej Times has studied, the healthcare provider also stated that "all cosmetic procedures performed in health facilities such as hair removal, botox, filler, face-lift, hair transplant will also be stopped, to prepare the country's healthcare system to fight the new coronavirus".

Stating that all non-urgent procedures/appointments will be suspended or postponed for the time being, the revised circular stated that: "Dental centres and clinics in health facilities are limited to receive only urgent cases such as acute dental pain, pus infections, injuries etc."

Rest all other appointments, it stated, including physical therapy, chiropractor and osteopathy stand postponed, limiting it to the necessary cases according to the discretion of the treating physician such as (post-operative physical therapy etc.) that "do not negatively affect the patient's health".

The suspended services also included using synthetic and compounding nutritional supplements and intravenous solutions that are non-therapeutic such as enhancing energy, anti-stress, loss of appetite, hair loss, anti-aging, enhance immune and fat burning.

Limiting home health care services and patient visits to hospital, the authority stated: "For periodic follow-up appointments for chronic diseases such as heart disease, diabetes, blood pressure, or immunodeficiency, the patient is not required to attend the clinic or hospital, except in the case of extreme necessity. The hospital should allow the delivery of medications to the patient, whether at his home or the presence of a person on his behalf."

It added: "In the event that the patient's condition calls for examination, the doctor can use the telemedicine method whenever the patient's condition permits and does not negatively affect his health."

saman@khaleejtimes.com


More news from