The UAE’s healthcare system has emerged victorious against the pandemic. The economic recovery’s credit must go to the first responders of UAE — the doctors, paramedics, emergency aid workers, nurses and helpers in hospitals who helped battle the surge when the pandemic swept across the country, while keeping their emotions in check.

The pandemic affected all— rich, poor, young, old, gender, and community. But all were attended to by the healthcare system of country equally. Latest development of Abu Dhabi’s private hospitals recording zero Covid cases highlights the resilience of the health system that was aided by advanced digital infrastructure. This smart infrastructure helped connect all hospital and clinic across the emirates and also brought health services to people’s fingertips through smartphones and devices. UAE government’s leadership that focused on private-public partnership is to be lauded for this spart innovation.

Remote medicine became more common as people stayed at home and worked from home for their livelihood. The test-treat-cure regime was bolstered as the pandemic first hit the UAE last March.

This was in accordance to the protocols of World Health Organization. The UAE stood firm to the protocols and let science take the course. It was a defensive approach in the beginning as virus remained a mystery. But with the introduction of vaccines in December 2020, the UAE went on the offensive and vaccinated its people in a historic mass vaccination drive.

The early start to vaccination helped the UAE tread towards economic recovery rather quickly. Now, a global leader in vaccinations, country’s health sector is receiving global applause. Almost 97 per cent of the UAE population is now vaccinated against Covid-19.

Health officials have moved swiftly, while following all cautions, to roll out vaccinations for age group of 5-11-year-olds. It is estimated that the vaccination figure could be close to 100 per cent. Is this herd immunity? Perhaps.

The pandemic in UAE is showcasing to have reached an endemic stage with cases falling below 80. Tourists are back in full force and business activity is reaching levels of pre-pandemic era. And this all is attributed to the UAE’s health system and its personnel that have saved valuable lives and the economy.