UAE responds to closure of Universal Hospital Abu Dhabi

(MENAFN- Khaleej Times) The Universal hospital in Abu Dhabi has closed down due to financial troubles, Khaleej Times has learnt.

"Authorities shut down the hospital based on request from the owner. We are not accepting any patients, an informed source close to the hospital said.

"Following a request from its owner, Universal Hospital was approved to shut down. All patients were moved promptly to alternative hospitals and provided with full support for the transition of their treatment," The Department of Health, Abu Dhabi said.

"Remittances for hospital employees do not fall with our mandate and request for comment on these matters should be addressed to the relevant authority," the department added.

It is understood that the 200-bed specialty hospital has stopped accepting in-patients since one week. When Khaleej Times visited the two towers in the old Airport road on Friday (September 6), the facilities looked deserted without any employees.

The owner who is currently in India could not be reached.

But sources close to the management said the management could not arrange funds to tide over the financial crisis.

The hospital was once temporarily shut down by the Department of Health in April this year for meeting certain health and safety standards.

Uncertain future

It is understood that over 500 staff of the hospital is facing uncertainty due to the sudden closure of the hospital.

Hospital staff who spoke to Khaleej Times said their salaries have not been paid for months.

"My salary is pending for four months now. We knew the hospital has some financial issues but were hoping that things would stabilize," said one employee requesting anonymity.

A doctor who joined the hospital a few years ago said he was also not paid for months.

"We don't know what is next. It is a difficult place to be in without knowing whether you have the job or not."

Many employees who Khaleej Times spoke to, said there was no official communication from the management regarding the closure.

"We were told by our supervisors on September 3 that we were not needed to come to work from September 4 onwards. The information was conveyed to us on WhatsApp. We are now sitting at home wondering what to do," a hospital nurse said.

AnjanaSankar
Anjana Sankar is a journalist by profession and a humanist by passion. Her cluttered desk is not indicative of her state of mind.

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