Home UAE Abu Dhabi Abu Dhabi’s healthcare regulator suspends international patient care services The Department of Health is liaising with authorities to ensure that IPC patients have access to timely healthcare services by Zainab Mansoor March 4, 2020 Abu Dhabi has declared a moratorium on international patient care (IPC) services. The Department of Health – Abu Dhabi’s (DoH) injunction is aligned with its incessant efforts to prioritise patients’ health and safety while ensuring that precautionary measures are taken to contain the new coronavirus outbreak. .@DoHSocial has announced the temporary suspension of international patient care (IPC) services. This decision comes in line with DoH’s continuous efforts to prioritise patients’ health and safety — Abu Dhabi Government Media Office (@admediaoffice) March 3, 2020 DoH asserted its cooperation with all the concerned authorities including the Abu Dhabi Health Services Company, SEHA, to ensure that IPC patients have access to timely healthcare services, in light of their health condition until it is safe for patients to be sent abroad for treatment. “As soon as the World Health Organisation declared the new coronavirus, COVID-19, a global health emergency, we deemed it crucial to take immediate action and implement rigorous measures to control the spread of the virus,” said Hind Al Zaabi, acting director of International Patient Care Division, DoH. “Taking protective measures are essential to ensure the health and safety of our society.” The capital’s healthcare regulator has urged the public to reach out to the ISTIJABA call centre on 8001717 in case of Covid-19 related enquiries. According to the Centre for Health Tourism Strategy, international patients include the following categories: medical tourism clients random travelers who become ill or injured while traveling expatriates and foreign nationals working in the region, and pensioners and other long-stay visitors who may spend cold winter months in a warm climate second home Since the outbreak of the virus – that broke out in the Chinese city of Wuhan late last year and has transcended to over 60 countries, claiming over 3,000 lives – the UAE has confirmed 27 cases of the infection. Read: UAE confirms six new coronavirus cases; total tallies 27 0 Comments