Dubai: As of Wednesday, Al Barsha Primary Health Centre will open for 24 hours to provide services for 60,000 residents living in the area.
The Dubai Health Authority (DHA) plans on opening two other centres before the end of 2014, according to Engineer Essa Al Maidoor, Director-General of the Dubai Health Authority.
Al Maidoor said that this is the second centre after Nad Al Hamar to function 24 hours. “We will provide the 24 hour service across two more DHA primary healthcare centres before the end of 2014. The aim of the round-the-clock service is to provide patients with access to healthcare and reduce the pressure of non-urgent medical cases that the centres receive.”
In line with the Dubai Health Sector Strategy 2013-2025, the DHA also plans to have a total of 40 primary health centres spread across Dubai by 2025.
“The DHA is presently working with Dubai Municipality to study various parameters especially population across different geographical areas so that we can ascertain priority areas for building new PHCs. Access to primary healthcare is a key parameter for the DHA.”
Dr Ahmad Kalban, CEO of Primary Healthcare Sector at the DHA, said that this will also help relieve pressure of emergency departments at DHA hospitals.
He also added that the centre provides services to over 60,000 individuals residing in and around the Al Barsha area.
The centre is located near the Mall of the Emirates and is opposite Union Co-operation in Al Barsha. The specialities at the centre include family medicine, maternal health, child health services, nutrition, ophthalmology, ENT, dentistry, chronic diseases, pre-marital testing and pharmaceutical services. Moreover, the centre has an x-ray unit and regularly holds health awareness initiatives. The centre also has a dedicated traveller’s clinic to take care of all the vaccination and healthcare needs of travellers. The centre has a coffee-shop and soon the waiting areas will be fitted with Andriod Tablets for patients and their family members.
