No insurance? No problem. Leading pharmacy chain Aster Pharmacy will offer medicine at cost price to visitors who are stranded in the UAE due to the coronavirus pandemic, according to the UAE's state-run WAM news agency.
Cost price is the price at which merchants or retailers buy goods.
Aster Pharmacy visitors are only required to provide proof of identity, visit visa & prescription from a licensed medical practitioner in order to obtain the medicine at cost price, the chain said in a statement.
Part of Aster DM Healthcare, it said it made the decision after receiving "several requests from various consulates to assist their citizens to avail prescription medicines – many of which can be very expensive to purchase privately."
It added: "There are currently a large number of people stuck in the UAE as a result of COVID-19 issues, many of whom do not possess health insurance: this is especially worrying for those that have chronic conditions requiring ongoing medical support - in addition to visitors with acute illness that require immediate medication”.
It also said alternative medicines will be provided at cost price if prescriptions have been prepared by doctors outside of the UAE.
