The emirate is in dire need of intensive and critical care services, showed the 2011 health statistics of the Health Authority Abu Dhabi (HAAD) which pointed out shortages in emergency care, neonatology, cardiology and psychiatry.

The statistics showed that the number of clinicians licensed in intensive and critical care, and emergency medicine dipped slightly last year; from 38 in 2010 to 31 and from 90 to 89, respectively. Reason was not given for the reduction.

Meanwhile, modest increases occurred in other specialities facing shortages. Neonatologists have increased by five to 18, cardiologists from 71 to 82 and psychiatrists to 57 from 49 in 2010. The HAAD report noted that, treatment of neuropsychiatric conditions is among the health services expected to grow in demand in future.

The private sector, which has the largest contribution in healthcare capacity growth (75 per cent) posted “little or no growth in the specialities where capacity gaps exist”, the report added.

In 2011, the number of clinicians licensed across the range of specialities within the emirate rose by 159 (three per cent), and 798 new clinician licences were issued during the same period. Priority was given to healthcare professionals in the areas where there are acute shortages, as well as, the rural areas in general.

According to the HAAD, there are still severe capacity shortfalls in rural areas, particularly the Desert Villages, Al Falah and Ghantoot districts in Abu Dhabi. At present, there are no healthcare facility in Al Falah (5,019 population) and Ghantoot (3,088 population), whereas only two clinics are providing services for 35,489 people living in Desert Villages.

In Al Ain, Umm Ghaffa, Nahel and Al Dhahra are totally underserved without any healthcare facility while Liwa in the Western Region has only one clinic for the entire 41,256 population.

“During the fourth quarter this year, the HAAD seeks to centrally procure for primary care facilities in these locations,” stated the report.

The HAAD also plans to address the challenges in rural communities by using clinician rotations, mobile clinics, homecare and telemedicine to improve access to healthcare.

With population growth projected by the Abu Dhabi Urban Planning Council (UPC) to double by 2030, the HAAD estimates that the emirate would require a maximum of 17 new small to medium general hospitals and 56 new clinics to provide local access to the expanding communities. However, the actual number required will depend on whether existing facilities will expand or improve efficiency of services.

The number of healthcare facilities has grown by 96 (six per cent) in 2011 to reach 1,729. It is estimated that if turnover remains high by 2021, up to 3,200 additional doctors and 5,900 nurses will be required or 1,500 doctors and almost 1,600 nurses to be recruited annually.