Nurses and doctors arrive at Dubai airport.

 Gulf Today, Staff Reporter

International flights from India to the UAE have been suspended till July 21. However, there are exceptions.

In what can be seen as a major sign of flexibility by the government for the medical sector, a group of 73 health workers from the Aster group of hospitals and clinics including doctors, nurses and paramedics, landed in the UAE from India.

 Aster officials at the airport.

They were carrying a special travel permit provided by Dubai Health Authority for the group after Aster DM Healthcare sought permission to ferry the healthcare frontliners to the UAE. DHA forwarded the approved list of travellers to Emirates Airlines.

After the trip was greenlighted, the staff split into two groups and left for the UAE on Wednesday. More healthcare workers may fly to the UAE in the near future.

Most of the existing healthcare professionals were on leave at home when the virus restrictions were imposed.

The team consists of professionals with expertise in dealing with coronavirus patients and intensive care units.

Dr. Sherbaz Bichu, CEO of Aster Hospitals & Clinics, UAE said, “The team has all the necessary approvals from the foreign ministry.

Our healthcare professionals have travelled from different parts of India – Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu (Pondicherry), Maharashtra

(Mumbai), Hyderabad, Madhya Pradesh (Indore) to be present at Cochin & Bangalore terminal on 7th July for their international flight

departing from India to UAE.”

He thanked the Dubai government bodies for their kind gesture in arranging for the trip.

 “We will continue to serve our sole purpose of providing treatment and deliver healthcare services to families, individuals and communities in the UAE with strength and confidence.”