Not a good idea!
Medical tourism in Dubai (“Dubai rolls out medical tourism strategy”, Gulf News, March 25)? The treatment charges are exorbitant and very often we read reports about a new-born child or other patients not being discharged from hospitals due to lack of payment clearance. These are just a few cases, but first these issues need to be addressed. If a survey was done, we would see that majority of the residents are not satisfied with the medical system in the country. People still go to other countries for treatment. I have a relative who was wrongly diagnosed and prescribed a high dosage of a wrong medicine. When the error was detected, my relative was told that the medicine shouldn’t be stopped immediately and it will take a period of one to two years to periodically reduce the consumption of that medicine. There were drastic side effects due to the medicine and this episode made me lose faith in the medical system here.
From Ms Aparna Bala
Dubai
Get treated
Would the UAE residents please lead by example and have themselves treated here for their illnesses rather than flying abroad? Set the example and show that you trust the medical system, and then perhaps others will follow suit and get treatment here.
From Mr Louie Tedesco
Dubai
Smokers are not the problem!
‘Smokers are bad’, that’s all we hear (“Dubai Municipality cracks down on littering”, Gulf News, March 25). Prices of cigarette packs are being increased, the places where we can smoke are being limited and there are aggressive campaigns against it. How about, for once, the media addresses the issue of alcoholism-related issues, such as drunk driving? More deaths and problems are related to it than smoking. Why are we getting bullied exclusively? I agree that whoever throws a cigarette butt or garbage outside a car should be fined. But, don’t just highlight what some smokers do!
From Mr Hassan
Abu Dhabi
Website comment
Ignorance is not bliss
It’s a shame how everyone targets smokers. Non-smokers have a worse attitude towards safety of driving and littering. I’m a smoker but my cigarette butts are always left in the ashtray. Non-smokers and smokers alike have the tendency to throw rubbish from their cars, such as empty bags or food items. Therefore, I’m in agreement with the fines. People should use the ashtrays in their cars instead. Majority of the people living here are expatriates, including myself. What we do in our home countries should be left behind and we should follow and respect the law of the land that we are in. The unfortunate thing is that many people hide behind the act of ignorance by stating that they did not know. I suggest paid classes to be made mandatory for such people to teach them the rules and laws of the land. Perhaps that will help.
From Mr Mohammad
Dubai
Website comment
Clear signage
Smokers’ rights must be protected. There should be designated places for us to smoke and proper bins to dispose the cigarette butts. Clear signage should be placed where smoking is not allowed. Driving tests must include the information that throwing cigarette butts out of your car is an offence.
From Mr Mohammad
Abu Dhabi
Website comment
EDITOR’S PICK
An inspiring story
I consider myself lucky to have visited the final day of the Abilities ME Exhibition and Conference, the first of its kind that offers support for the provision of education and awareness to people with special needs and disabilities. There were many interesting presentations and stalls. However, one young and vibrant person offering visitors an explanation about her stall caught my attention. She was Nilofar Saleem. A few years ago, I had met her when she was a student at Manzil, a centre for special needs in Sharjah. Then I met her at the same centre, when she became a staff member. Now, four years later, I was meeting her at this exhibition. I noticed several changes in her attitude. She was more confident and put on her trademark smile when I approached her. She is a person with global development delay (a person diagnosed with having a lower intellectual functioning than what is perceived as normal). Once she recognised me, she told me all about her new job and life. She now works with one of the leading banks in the UAE that has supported her to develop into a self sufficient young individual. It is an inspiring example of how an institution can groom an individual to become a breadwinner for a family and look ahead in life. How many organisations would be willing to support individuals like Saleem to find a firm footing in life?
From Mr Ramesh Menon
Abu Dhabi
(NOTE: LETTER TO RUN WITH PICTURE)
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