Aster Hospital in Al Qusais has opened a new Urgent Care Clinic to serve patients in need of immediate, non-life-threatening medical attention—without the long wait times of traditional emergency rooms. The clinic, operating daily from 10:00 PM to 6:00 AM, offers walk-in services and is led by experienced general practitioners specializing in general medicine, pediatrics, and gynecology.
Located near Reception A on the hospital’s ground floor, the facility is equipped with rapid diagnostic tools to handle common urgent conditions such as fever, minor injuries, stomach issues, pregnancy-related concerns, and pediatric ailments. The move is a direct response to growing demand for after-hours care and complements the UAE’s broader efforts to streamline emergency services and improve healthcare efficiency.
Dr. Sherbaz Bichu, CEO of Aster Hospitals & Clinics – UAE, Bahrain, and Oman, said the launch is part of a targeted effort to ensure patients receive care appropriate to the urgency of their condition. “The introduction of an urgent care clinic within the Aster hospital Qusais is a strategic move to alleviate the pressure on the emergency room (ER) by redirecting non-emergent cases,” he said. “This approach not only enhances patient care but also improves the overall efficiency of hospital services.”
By providing an alternative to the ER for non-critical cases, the clinic helps reserve emergency room resources for those in life-threatening situations, such as chest pain, severe bleeding, or loss of consciousness.
Dr. Ramanathan Venkiteswaran, Consultant Paediatrician & Group Medical Director, added, “Our General Practitioners and supporting medical teams will ensure that patients receive timely, condition-appropriate treatment, bridging the gap between outpatient visits and emergency care.”
The launch also comes at a time when emergency services in the UAE are under pressure. Recent government data shows that more than 22,900 emergency cases were handled by National Ambulance in the first quarter of 2025 alone—yet over 40 percent of those did not require hospital admission. Aster’s new clinic addresses this gap by offering immediate, appropriate care in a more suitable setting.
The clinic is covered under most standard insurance policies, making it accessible to a broad range of patients. Although telehealth options are not yet available, plans are underway to integrate services via the myAster platform in the near future.
Aster Hospital Al Qusais, recently recognized in Newsweek’s “World’s Best Smart Hospitals 2025” and ranked 14th in the UAE, continues to push innovation in healthcare delivery. The success of this new clinic is expected to guide potential future rollouts in other areas across the country.
