Free medication throws a lifeline to workers hit by Covid-19 slowdown
Recovery from the global effects of Covid-19 is well under way in the UAE, as the labour market continues its resurgence from the pandemic-driven slowdown.
Hundreds of job opportunities are available across the Emirates and companies expect revenue to surge by as much as 50 per cent as part of a strong economic rebound.
However, some workers have had to seek help to afford specialised medication after cuts to medical insurance benefits and salaries during the pandemic.
“I was diagnosed with an autoimmune disease 13 years ago and without special medicine, I cannot walk properly or sleep and am constantly in pain,” said Anurag Joshi, 30, a sales manager from India who lives in Dubai.
“The medication I need costs Dh3,500 [$952] a month and was never covered by my medical insurance, but I was able to pay for it myself out of my salary.
“However, the company I work for had to introduce 50 per cent salary cuts because of the pandemic and I wasn’t able to afford it any more.”
Mr Joshi turned to a healthcare consultancy firm that put him in touch with a hospital programme in the UAE, allowing him to receive the medication for free.
“Without the medication, I couldn’t sleep for long and would wake up every few hours and need to take painkillers to get back to sleep,” he said.
Another Dubai resident said medication for his leukaemia would have been impossible to afford without help from a healthcare access company.
“I was diagnosed with chronic leukaemia six years ago and the medicine I needed was not covered by my health insurance,” said Ahmed Al Hoseny, 35, from Egypt.
“The medicine I need costs Dh19,000 a month and even if I spent my full salary on it I wouldn’t be able to afford it by myself. I also have to do a blood test every three months that costs Dh3,000.”
Mr Al Hoseny said being able to get the medicine he needed was “the difference between life and death”.
“If I didn’t get this help I don’t know what I would have done, as I have to provide for my two children as well,” said the computer engineer.
Both Mr Al Hoseny and Mr Joshi were helped by Axios International, a healthcare consultancy that puts people in touch with organisations such as hospitals and charities that can help them get the treatment they need.
“A lot of people lost their work or means of support because of what happened [with Covid-19]. This is the same all across the world,” said Omer Karfis, of Axios International.
“A lot of the people we help either don’t have health insurance at all or what they have doesn’t cover what they need.
“We work alongside organisations like the Ministry of Health and Prevention, hospitals and charities as well as pharmaceutical companies to get people in desperate need the help they require.
“We don’t give away free medicine – we connect people to those who can help them.”
Mr Karfis said many organisations, such as hospitals and charities, provided programmes for those who desperately need health care, but cannot afford it themselves or do not have the insurance to cover it.
His firm connects patients, in the UAE and worldwide, who require care with those with the means to provide it.
The company has offered support to cancer patients in the UAE as well as those suffering from conditions such as psoriasis and autoimmune disease.
The World Health Organisation estimates that more than half of the global population lacks access to essential health services.
“There is a challenge everywhere all over the world, not just in the UAE, for people to get access to the care they need,” Mr Karfis said.
“The majority of people are not lucky enough to have access to premium-level health insurance.”
The WHO estimates that more than half of the world’s population lacks access to essential health services