The Dubai Health Authority (DHA) will provide free treatment to patients with limited means, the Dubai Health Authority (DHA) announced on Tuesday.

Other health services will be provided to those with limited means with affordable fees at private hospitals and clinics.

The DHA announced the launch of Ataa' wa Saa'da (Giving and Happiness) initiative, which aims to support patients with limited means (financially, psychologically and socially) in partnership with the private sector.

Dr Marwan Al Mulla, the Director of Health Regulation at DHA said the authority has collaborated with 10 private health facilities to provide free treatment to patients with limited means.

He added that there has been notable interest from private health facilities to take part in the initiative and so the number of private health care facilities taking part in the initiative is likely to increase to an estimated 26 health facilities.

He added that as part of the initiative, other health services will be provided to those with limited means with affordable fees at private hospitals and clinics.

Dr Al Mulla said that a number of meetings were held with private health facilities, who will be taking part in the initiative, which will be implemented in partnership with the Community and Humanitarian Services Office at DHA.

Dr Al Mulla added that the authority will be holding a number of meetings in the next phase to add to the list of private health care facilities taking part in the initiative, especially following the keenness of many private health facilities to join in helping those with limited means by providing treatment free of charge.

Salim Mohammad Bin Lahij, Head of the Community & Humanitarian Services Office at DHA said that the community and humanitarian services office at DHA has formed criteria and regulation that must be met by patients to make them eligible to receive the free treatment.

The DHA has formed a team to implement the Year of Giving initiatives to implement the DHA's 30 Year of Giving initiatives.

The initiative was launched in line with President His Highness Shaikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan announcing the year 2017 as the 'Year of Giving' in the UAE and under the directives of His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai to take part in the Year of Giving

Source: Khaleej Times