the feature pages · part 1
Pediatric visits: how the job changes when the patient is under five
Children are the largest single reason UAE families book home doctors, and the operational logic is sound: a feverish three-year-old in a hospital waiting room at 11pm is exposed to every virus in the building and examines poorly because they are exhausted and scared. At home, the same child can be assessed on a parent's lap, in normal clothes, at something close to baseline behaviour, which genuinely improves the quality of the examination.
Hard boundaries: any fever in a baby under three months goes to hospital, not a house call. Same for a child who is unusually drowsy, refusing all fluids, breathing fast with rib retractions, or showing a rash that does not fade under a pressed glass. Pediatric home consultations generally run AED 350-700, and vendors with genuine pediatric coverage will say so explicitly rather than sending whichever GP is free.
the feature pages · part 2
The prescription-to-pharmacy loop: closing the visit properly
The visit is not finished when the doctor leaves; it is finished when the medication is in the house and the follow-up plan is clear. UAE prescriptions from home visits are typically issued electronically, and the ecosystem around them is genuinely good: most licensed pharmacies deliver, urban areas are often covered within the hour, and the doctor or coordinator will usually route the e-prescription to a pharmacy near you before they are out of the parking lot. Ask the doctor to talk you through each item, what it is for, dose timing, with or without food, and what to skip if you improve early.
Two failure points to manage. First, stock: if a specific antibiotic suspension or pediatric formulation is prescribed, have the pharmacy confirm availability before you pay for delivery, or you lose an evening to substitution calls. Second, controlled and semi-controlled medications: these need the special prescription format and an in-person pharmacy dispense with ID in most cases, so plan for a pharmacy trip rather than a delivery if one appears on your script.
the feature pages · part 3
Licences and verification: DHA, DoH and MOHAP in practice
Home healthcare in the UAE is a licensed activity twice over: the doctor holds a personal professional licence, and the company holds a facility licence for home healthcare services. The authority depends on the emirate where the service operates. In Dubai it is the Dubai Health Authority, and you can check any practitioner on the DHA's public licence search. In Abu Dhabi and Al Ain it is the Department of Health, with its own professional register. Sharjah, Ajman, Ras Al Khaimah, Fujairah and Umm Al Quwain fall under the Ministry of Health and Prevention, MOHAP, which also runs a searchable registry.
One more piece of context worth knowing: the UAE's health-record exchanges, NABIDH in Dubai, Malaffi in Abu Dhabi, Riayati nationally, mean a properly documented home visit can become part of your longitudinal record rather than a loose PDF. Vendors connected to these systems tend to be the more institutional operators, which is a useful quality signal in itself.
market prices
Budgeting for this
There is no single correct price for sick leave certificate — there is a range, and where you land in it depends on scope and which vendor you pick. The app shows you that range up front.
Telehealth consultation (video or phone, no visit)AED 100-300
Late-night or early-morning home visitAED 400-800
Pediatric home consultationAED 350-700
IV fluids or medically indicated drip during a visitAED 350-800
the going rateAED 300–800
Final pricing comes from the vendor option you pick in the app — you see the quotes before you commit.
letters to the editor
Frequently asked questions
letter no. 1
Can a home-visit doctor give me a sick note my employer must accept?
the desk replies — Yes, provided the doctor is licensed by DHA, DoH or MOHAP and the certificate carries their licence number, facility details, dates and stamp. It is valid sick-leave evidence under UAE labour law. Ask for it during the visit, since doctors cannot backdate certificates, and check whether your employer requires attestation for longer absences.
letter no. 2
Can I get an IV drip at home without going to a clinic?
the desk replies — Yes, after an in-person assessment. Doctors routinely administer saline rehydration, IV antiemetics and IV paracetamol at home, staying for the full infusion with vitals monitored. Be wary of any provider who agrees to a specific drip over chat before examining the patient, since the assessment is what makes home IV therapy safe.
letter no. 3
Is a home visit safe for a baby or should I always go to hospital?
the desk replies — For most childhood illness in children over three months, fever, coughs, ear pain, gastro, a home pediatric assessment is appropriate and often produces a better exam than a stressed late-night waiting room. Hard exceptions go to hospital: any fever under three months of age, laboured breathing, unusual drowsiness, refusal of all fluids, or a rash that does not fade under pressure.
letter no. 4
Can a home doctor stitch a cut or treat a wound?
the desk replies — Minor wound cleaning, dressing and simple suturing of small, clean lacerations are within scope for many visiting GPs who carry suture kits. Deep wounds, facial wounds in children, animal bites, and anything with heavy bleeding or suspected tendon or nerve involvement belong in an emergency department, where exploration and imaging are available.
letter no. 5
Can one visit cover two sick family members?
the desk replies — Usually, and it is the economical way to handle a household virus, since second-patient add-ons commonly run AED 150-400 against a full second call-out. Declare every patient when booking, though; each person needs their own assessment, documentation and prescription, and the doctor needs to allocate enough time on site.
letter no. 6
Do you cover JLT Cluster P?
the desk replies — Yes — JLT Cluster P is covered across Dubai, with vendors who regularly work the area. Availability shows live in the app.