Health workers stuck in India desperate to return to UAE
ENVOY SAYS CONCERNS OF FRONTLINE WARRIORS RAISED WITH AUTHORITIES
Hundreds of UAE health workers, who have been stuck in India due to the Covid-19-related suspension of inbound passenger flights from India to the UAE, are appealing to authorities to help facilitate their early return.
Prominent private health care groups in the UAE confirmed to Gulf News that hundreds of their employees, including existing ones and new recruits in India, have not been able to travel to the UAE ever since the restriction on passengers from India began on April 25.
Spokespersons of different private health care groups said they were in discussion with authorities and had sought support to bring back front line warriors to the UAE.
Indian Ambassador to the UAE Pavan Kapoor told Gulf News that the Indian missions had already raised the issue with the UAE authorities. “We are aware of several UAE resident doctors and health care workers presently stuck in India. We have been raising this issue with relevant UAE authorities for some time, and are hopeful that they will be allowed to return soon,” he said.
VPS Healthcare
Sanjai Kumar, chief human resources officer at VPS Healthcare, said 125 employees of the group including five clinicians and 50 nurses, are stuck in India. “We also have more than 200 newly hired employees who are stuck in different parts of India.”
Aster DM Healthcare
Fara Siddiqi, group chief human resources officer, Aster DM Healthcare, said more than 300 employees of the group are stuck in India due to the travel ban, with the majority of them being health care staff.
“We are concerned about their well-being and want to bring them back to the UAE where they can continue to serve our patients.” Siddiqi said the group was in discussions with government institutions to bring back the health care staff.
Thumbay Group
Thumbay Healthcare Division said several of its health care workers are stuck in India, without specifying the total number of the workforce affected due to the travel restrictions. “We would be glad to help them in any way to return to work and serve the community of the UAE,” said Akbar Moideen Thumbay, vicepresident, Healthcare Division, Thumbay Group. “We fully support the government and wish to play an important role in fighting the pandemic,” he said, hoping for support for the return of health workers from India.
Independent facilities
Other groups and independent health care establishments like hospitals, medical centres and clinics have also reported absence of several members of their work force due to the travel restrictions from India.
Gopinath S., chief strategic officer at Canadian Specialist Hospital in Dubai, said the hospital has 16 employees including doctors, nurses and paramedics stuck in India. “We urge that an exemption be given in terms of a waiver for visa and licence renewal periods to health care workers, who are stuck in India. We have appealed to the authorities to consider our plea.”
Stranded workers
Dr. Mohammad Nisar Ali, specialist anaesthesiologist at Aster Hospital, Al Ghusais, said he went to India on April 16 due to an emergency. “My mother was not doing well and she was hospitalised. By the time she started improving and I was looking forward
to my return, the flight ban came into effect and since then I am stuck in India,” he said. “Being away from duty for such a long time affects me physically, emotionally, psychologically. Also, in time of this pandemic crisis, I could be of help to the hospital.”
He urged the authorities to help facilitate the return of the UAE resident visa holders.
Steffi Christina, an ICU Nurse at Burjeel Hospital in Abu Dhabi, said she went home for a much-needed vacation after being away from her dear ones for two years. “It has been two years since I came to my hometown as I was active in the front line service during the pandemic. I took leave for a month and came to India on April 18. I was supposed to join on May 22. But, unfortunately, flights were closed.”
Deepthi Sambhu, a nurse at VPS Healthcare, said she had gone home on vacation on March 16, and her return was planned for April last week. “I am very much concerned that I am not able to meet my work commitments and facing several challenges. When l informed my management about these challenges, I learnt that they are trying their best to help us and looking for options to facilitate the travel. I am hopeful that the authorities will consider this as a special case and allow us to join back to duty at the earliest,” she added.
Soumya Kesava Udayakumar, unit-in-charge at Aster Pharmacy in Muhaisnah, said she also went to India for her annual vacation after two years. “I came on April 7 and my vacation was supposed to resume work on May 12. The suspension of the flight was until May 4 and I was hoping to return on time. But, it has got extended again and again.”