Red Crescent offers more medical aid to expatriates

Expatriates who suffer from chronic disease and are unable to afford the cost of treatment have been urged to seek help from the Red Crescent Society. Easa Ahmed Al Mansoori, deputy manager of the local humanitarian assistance department, said the RCS is keen to expand the financial help it provides to needy residents.

In addition to those with medical problems, the society financially assists prisoners' families and students who can't afford school or university fees. Al Mansoori said, "We give prisoners up to Dh15,000 and provide support to their families. We seek the help of people who are willing to provide financial aid to prisoners.

"We also give aid to university and school students and those with special skills to help them find jobs. Money is given on a monthly or yearly basis." Medical assistance, he said, "involves providing aid to patients who are unable to pay for their medication.

"Medical assistance is given to anyone who is living in the UAE, whether local or expatriate or from the GCC. Treatment can be done here or abroad." Financial assistance is usually given to low-income workers with big families. To ensure that the funds are used for the right purpose, the Red Crescent Society pays the money to the hospital.

"Patients also buy medicine and give us the bill. We then reimburse the sum. If patients go abroad for treatment, the money is sent to the UAE embassy there." Assistance is given to a patient only once because the Red Crescent Society has limited funds.

"We provide assistance to people with chronic diseases, those who are in need of a kidney transplant and heart patients. "We welcome patients with chronic diseases, but we can't continue to help them - not because we don't want to, but because we are a charitable organisation and our budget depends on community donations. We do our best to help these patients.

"If medical costs are between Dh10,000 and Dh15,000 we can cover them, but if the sum is around Dh100,000, we can't afford it," Al Mansoori added. The majority of patients seeking RCS help need dialysis. "There are some patients who are suffering from hepatitis C. Patients need medicine for six months and the RCS gives it to them. The ministry provides these medicines only to local patients."

The society also provides glasses and hearing aids. He said the RCS spent Dh254,375 on medical assistance last month.