As part of its commitment to serve the most vulnerable people to the symptoms of coronavirus disease (COVID-19), Dubai continues to deliver medication to elderly and people with pre-existing conditions for free.
The Dubai Health Authority (DHA) has launched its Dawa’ee service last year to provide convenience to those who require medicine on a regular basis to treat various conditions like diabetes and high-blood pressure.
However, DHA’s Pharmaceutical Services Department Director Dr Ali Al Sayed said that the service is now being provided on a larger scale since the emergence of COVID-19 pandemic—especially now that people have been mandated to stay at home.
He added in an interview with Gulf News that the service now covers all of Dubai, with 300 deliveries currently done and plans for expansion to other emirates.
The director added that this service ensures that the high-risk groups are receiving their medication on time without stepping out of their homes—protecting themselves from the virus and complying with the regulations of the government in the process.
One of those who have benefitted from the delivery service is librarian David Hirsch, a man in his 60s who is a regular patient at the Dubai Diabetic Center. He said that because of the outbreak of the disease, as well as his age and condition, he was advised not to go out anymore. However, he was told that the DHA could arrange for the delivery of the medicine to his house.
“It was arranged within a few days. The pharmacist called me the day the medicine would be delivered. The driver called me when he arrived at my building. I went downstairs with my mask and gloves and collected the medication at the door of my building,” he said.
He expressed his gratitude for the efficiency of Dubai with regards to this service, as well as its response to the pandemic—adding that they are working very hard to control this outbreak while providing quality service for its residents.
According to DHA, those who are eligible for the delivery service include Emiratis, those who have a valid prescription from one its health facilities, and those who have a valid ENAYA or SAADA health insurance program. They can log onto the DHA website, Dha.gov.ae, and request for the home delivery service.
All medications can be delivered except narcotics and those specifically used in hospitals.
