Sharjah: Al Qasimi Hospital is under renovation to improve its services and update its equipment at a total cost of Dh457 million, officials announced on Thursday.

"The renovation will be divided into phases and we have upgraded five departments to improve the quality of services at the hospital," said Dr Amin Al Amiri, Assistant Undersecretary at the Ministry of Health, Chairman of the Board of Directors at Al Qasimi Hospital.

It was previously reported that doctors working at the hospital felt overworked and underpaid. There are currently 782 staff members at the hospital, according to officials.

"A special budget has been allocated to employ 1,000 staff members, and we are in the process of achieving that goal by employing 200 staff members within the next two years," said Al Amiri. He noted that further methods to ease the burden of doctors include visiting consultants, who treat patients once every two weeks.

Five departments went under renovation and had their services upgraded, including the catherisation laboratory, at a cost of Dh51 million. The central sterile supply department was sponsored by the Patient's Friends Association at a cost of Dh1 million, the library was renovated at a cost of Dh125,000. The cafeteria and the auditorium were also upgraded.

More to come

Future expansion includes the maternity and paediatric wards at a cost of Dh385 million, while Dh20 million will be allocated for the casualty and emergency department, "which is extremely vital because we are the reference point for the rest of the Northern Emirates in dealing with complicated cases," said Al Amiri.

30 people admitted

Around 30 people have been admitted to Al Mafraq Hospital suffering from poisoning and suffocation from carbon monoxide in the past week.

According to Dr Hatem Faraj Al Amri of Mafraq Hospital, the quantity of carbon monoxide in the air has increased lately due to families using coal and wood to help keep their homes warm, as was done in the past in cold countries. Early symptoms of fatal carbon monoxide poisoning are a flu-like symptoms, headache, a desire to sleep followed by nausea and throwing up.

-Dina El Shammaa, Staff Reporter