'Beware of treatments abroad'

Seeking medical help in an unfamiliar destination may come with dangerous, life-threatening risks.

Patients from the UAE who are travelling abroad for treatment should reconsider their choices, doctors said. They argued that seeking medical help in an unfamiliar destination may come with dangerous, life-threatening risks.
Patients travel into a "whole new world" believing what has been projected, said Taher Shams, managing director of Zulekha Healthcare Group.
"They will miss out on the quality and safety standards when they fail to assess the environments, accreditations of centres, and the quality of medical equipment used in clinics or hospitals located in these far-off destinations," he said.
"The results may be disastrous and, at times, lead to complexities that are life-threatening," he added.
So, how is the UAE a better choice?
"In the UAE, qualifications and competencies of medical professionals are screened and evaluated by governing authorities before granting additional privileges and defining the scope of their services. The possibility of errors is nil with such strict controls," he said.
Medical liability laws in the UAE also protect patients against malpractices.
"The law guides healthcare facilities in obtaining malpractice insurance; outlining doctor's responsibilities; and also identifying the process of investigation and disciplinary proceedings in cases of alleged malpractice. This may not be the case outside the country," said Shams.
Other than that, there is a high standard in place for nursing care and support from other clinical professionals working together with doctors during critical treatments.
"Pre and post-op care is important for a patient's speedy recovery, as well as in instilling confidence in any healthcare provider," he said.
Unnecessary travel costs and prolonged off-time from business or work could also be avoided if patients would opt to stay in the country and carefully choose a UAE hospital for their treatment, Shams said.
"There is a high possibility of infection transmission in some countries with unhygienic hospital environments. The absence of infection control systems is another threat," he said. On the other hand, medical implants and consumables in the UAE are approved and regulated by health authorities such as the US' Food and Drug Administration, the Ministry of Health and Prevention, the Department of Health - Abu Dhabi, and the Dubai Health Authority (DHA).
Search for better services
Hussein Anani, COO, Canadian Specialist Hospital (CSH), said patients travel mainly because they want to avail of better health services in other countries.
"The UAE has definitely become one of these destinations and it is striving to be at the forefront of global health tourism," he said.
"The healthcare sector in the UAE is well qualified and has witnessed an unprecedented spurt, both in quality and quantity.
"In the last decade, the number of healthcare facilities has tripled, and international care standards have been adopted and have become a basic requirement for the licensing of any healthcare facility," Anani added.
He said the private sector has flourished and has been encouraged to invest in healthcare.
"Both the public and private sectors have attracted highly qualified doctors and medical professionals from Europe, US and other parts of the world. And hospitals have been equipped with the latest, state-of-the-art equipment."
Anani also said that when patients travel to another country for treatment, they look for accessibility that does not require long waiting periods to get entry visas.
"They look for a health tourism destination with strict laws and regulations that organise and control health practices and protect visitors from any kind of fraud. It must also be a secure country for tourists," he said.
"Patients and accompanying families will not spend all their time in hospitals, so they prefer a country that also provides a full range of hotels matching their budgets and can deliver leisure and comfort.
"Dubai, along with the rest of the UAE, has all of these and more to offer to health tourists," Anani added.
According to Shams, patients must look for accredited and well-known hospitals and surgeons; quality healthcare services; high standards of patient safety and security; hygienic treatment environments; and the availability of complete post-op care.
"The expertise to manage critical conditions and risks involved is key. Their lifelong safety, not just monetary saving, is essential," he said.Shams added that many UAE healthcare providers offer discounted services as part of their community initiatives.
Role of insurance
Dr Sharmik Kunee Padikkal, insurance manager, CSH, said insurance doesn't have much role in selecting the right kind of healthcare.
"It's the premium that plays a major role. For example, bigger hospitals have more areas of specialisations and if you would like to undergo certain treatments, you would often need to have an insurance with a higher premium," said Dr Sharmik. "Insurance coverage in different countries depends on the policy type."
Saleh Al Hashimi, advisor at the DHA's Dubai Health Insurance Corporation, said insurers have selected networks of hospital providers based on a strict set of criteria.
"The DHA works to ensure all insurers have adequate providers, both in terms of geographic coverage and medical competence, regardless of the level of plan," Al Hashimi said.
"Should patients wish to travel for treatment, depending on the policy type, they may continue their treatment abroad. However, there is no need to do so due to the availability of medical expertise in the emirate," he added.
asmaalizain@khaleejtimes.com

Latest medical tech in the UAE's health industry
Several developed countries around the world, including the US and Japan, are investing heavily in 'translational medicine' because of its potential in addressing patients' needs and improving treatment outcomes.
Translational medicine is the process of bringing scientific studies and biological discoveries to life, turning them into drugs and medical devices that can be used in treatments. This means medical breakthroughs are no longer resting in research journals and laboratories, said Dr Sarper Tanli, group CEO of Manzil Healthcare Services.
"Some of the most common and well-known technological innovations in translational medicine are telemedicine and remote health monitoring, which are focused on enhancing the health and safety of patients," he said.
Manzil Healthcare Services, like a number of healthcare providers in the UAE, has adopted many high-quality health and medical breakthroughs and tailored them into its population management, disease management and home care services. This allows the firm to offer innovative medical care at the comfort of its patients, wherever they may be. "Translational medicine is focused on the information collected from human studies to optimise the time between basic and clinical science. This means clinical studies need to be designed and implemented more in the UAE, utilising new discoveries in medicine or technology," said Dr Tanli.
"If we can implement the basis of translational medicine in the UAE, more people around the world would come to the country seeking these treatments, accompanied by exceptional healthcare services," he said.
asmaalizain@khaleejtimes.com