The UAE is working to position itself as a destination for medical tourism. It is trying to follow the example of India, Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand. The UAE already has very good health standards (Deloitte 14). The country has the lowest infant mortality rate, the lowest adult mortality rate, and one of the lowest maternal mortality rates in the world (Deloitte 5).
The government of the UAE is at the forefront of efforts to make the UAE a natural destination for medical tourists. There is a clear effort to avail the highest level of healthcare to attract people from all countries seeking affordable healthcare. This also includes the development of highly specialized medical services in the country to attract people with special needs (Deloitte 6).
The demand for healthcare in UAE comes from the increasing number of immigrants working in the UAE, an ageing population, and an increase in lifestyle diseases such as hypertension, obesity and cardiac ailments associated with the affluent lifestyle of many UAE residents. The government is supporting the home care services program to reduce the number of people spending time in the hospital (Deloitte 15).
The dilemma that comes from the view that human life is priceless has several dimensions. First, it is clear to many people that birth and death are not choices people make. Each individual comes to life without a decision on their part. Similarly, death is a compulsory end to all human life. Despite the best efforts, the longevity of life is not assured even with the best care (Chapin 67). In this sense, all human beings come to this world based on chance. This bestows intrinsic value to human life.
In this debate, the actual question is whether or not an individual can raise the resources required to meet his personal needs. The economic value of a person depends on the ability to access resources to meet personal needs. It is insincere to make those who can meet their needs to feel guilty about not supporting those who cannot meet their needs on the basis of the intrinsic value of life. The value and quality of life are separate issues. One is an issue of intrinsic worth, while the other is a factor of economic worth.
To resolve this dilemma, there are two options. The first option is to institute social support systems to take care of those who are disadvantaged in society to enable them to access basic services necessary for their human dignity. In this sense, every human being deserves respect and recognition in the society. However, this is not a free pass for people who do not want to exert themselves. Support should go to those who truly need it to maintain their dignity as human beings. This group includes the aged, the orphans, and those with physical conditions that hamper their participation in day to day endeavours. The second option is to treat everyone equally. It is possible to let everyone fend for themselves because everyone was born equally. There is sufficient proof that anyone can change their life by making the correct decisions and taking advantage of the opportunities that they come across. In conclusion, human life is priceless in an inherent sense, but not in an economic sense. Some people add equity to their lives by the benefits they accord society. At a certain point, some people become more valuable than others because of this.
Works Cited
Chapin, Rosemary. Social Policy for Effective Practice: A Strengths Approach. New York: Francis & Taylor, 2010. Print.
Deloitte. 2011 Survey of the UAE Healthcare Sector Opportunities and Challenges for Private Providers. Survey Report. London: Deloitte, 2011. Print.