Health care facilities in UAE brace for RT-PCR test rush by India-bound passengers

Health care facilities in UAE brace for RT-PCR test rush by India-bound passengers

Dubai: Several healthcare facilities in the UAE are bracing to meet the rush for testing by home-bound Indian expats after India made pre-departure negative COVID-19 RT-PCR test report mandatory for all passengers, including infants. The new rule came into effect on Tuesday. According to figures released by the Indian Ministry of Civil Aviation, around 2, 500 to 3, 000 passengers are currently flying daily from the UAE to India. Dr. Sherbaz Bichu, CEO, Aster Hospitals and Aster Clinics, UAE, said, "We are increasing the capacity in each centres. We are planning to have 24x7 COVID test facilities and we are also opening a drive-through facility in our hospital Aster Cedars in Jebel Ali in a couple of days." He said the group had already planned to set up the drive-through testing facility in view of the increase in testing requirements in the country. "We were expecting it because the [requirement for] test was increasing. The India rule has made it much faster. It is going to decongest the rush. We wanted to avoid crowding. When people don't have to get out of their car for testing, it is also more convenient for them. There is less risk for exposure," said