Abu Dhabi Health Services Company (Seha) has launched 13 additional drive-through COVID-19 testing facilities in Abu Dhabi. The first centre was opened in Zayed Sports City at the end of March.
The move follows the directives of HH Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, for protecting the health, safety and well-being of the UAE community, and curbing the spread of the coronavirus.
“In collaboration with our strategic partners across the UAE, we have equipped all drive-through centres with the most advanced testing systems, techniques and globally-accredited healthcare teams,” said Seha group deputy CEO Rashid Al Qubaisi.
The centres are said to have been launched within 10 days by a team of 250 people who were divided into seven groups.
Al Qubaisi explained, “Each group specialises in a specific area to ensure the efficiency of the testing centres, including executive, operational, marketing, supporting services, engineering and 67 volunteers. In total, the centres have a combined size of 23,000sqm.”
He added, “As a cornerstone of the healthcare sector in the UAE, Seha is building on its legacy of delivering on its mandate of providing the best health care to the UAE community and having the most comprehensive health care network, through the expansion of the drive-through testing centres. Seha combines diverse, world-class talent with the latest in medical diagnostics, which positions it as a catalyst for transforming the delivery of health care in the UAE.”
Tests at the drive-through centres take five minutes and Al Qubaisi notes that 7,000 people have been tested since the opening of the Zayed Sports City centre.
Seha Ambulatory Healthcare Services CEO Mohammed Hawas Al Sadid remarked, “Seven drive-through testing centres have so far opened in Abu Dhabi, of which three in Abu Dhabi City, Al Wathba and Al Bahia. The Abu Dhabi centres are open between 8:00am to 8:00pm, from Sunday to Thursday. Two out of the seven, have been opened in Al Ain in the Asharj and Al Hili areas. Each centre is capable of accommodating up to 600 individual bookings.”