In the News - Prime Hospital

Dubai-based Dr Dirar Abdallah, specialist in internal medicine and head of the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at the COVID-19 ward at Prime Hospital, explained what this means.

Singaram Annamalai, Chief Financial Officer at Prime Hospital, the cashflow situation could reach its lowest point by end May or beginning of June.“Because hospitals are still getting the cash from insurers now from patient visits that happened in January or February,” said Annamalai. “But since the last week of March, everyone has been extra cautious on any visits, social distancing is the norm, and there are the restrictions on movements.

Two such frontliners - a radiologist and a utility company representative - who contracted the virus say they are lucky to be in the UAE where timely testing and medical intervention made all the difference to their early recovery.

Prime Hospital is organising a blood donation campaign on April 22 from 9am to 1pm. “Our Target is to get at least 35-50 units of blood and donors in the present campaign will comprise of doctors, nurses, other healthcare professionals, administrative and support staff of Prime Healthcare group, who fulfill the acceptable criteria as per WHO, DHA and the Ministry of Health and Prevention, UAE,” said Dr Anthony Thomas Director Diagnostic Services Prime healthcare Group.

Swapna Devassykutty, 31, is an Intensive Care Unit (ICU) nurse, at Prime Hospital. The mother of three from India sweeps aside fatigue, negativity and stress to attend to patients with care, positivity and smiles. “Many of them are intubated on mechanical ventilation and require 24 hour care,” she said. “They call for us, sometimes, they just want some water or food or even see a kind face as it is tough for them,” she added.

Doctors are advising the public to store food at low temperatures and drink plenty of water during hot weather.

Dr Shahid Gauhar, a specialist neonatologist at Dubai’s Prime Hospital, which has half of its rooms set up to treat Covid-19 patients, said it was “too early” to say if the virus could affect the immunity of children in the long run.

Transiting Australian - now recovered - tested positive while on a stopover in the emirate