India's missions in the UAE have told Indian travellers to buy proper medical insurance, including cover for repatriation to India.

The Embassy of India in Abu Dhabi and the Consulate General in Dubai and Northern Emirates issued the advisory on October 27.

It followed several cases where Indians faced huge hospital bills after sudden illness and their insurance did not cover the cost.

Visitors and tourists are asked to take insurance before the trip that offers cashless treatment and pays for medical repatriation.

Cashless cover means the hospital bills the insurer directly, so the patient does not pay the full amount first and claim it later.

Repatriation cover pays to move a patient back to India for further treatment when that is medically needed.

Indians living in the UAE on employment visas, and their dependants, are asked to check that their policies cover all costs there.

A policy taken out with a job offer or visa may have limits on treatments, hospitals or moving a patient abroad.

The missions did not name any cases or give figures for the bills involved.

In July, the two countries discussed the welfare of each other's citizens at a joint consular affairs meeting.

Read the full article for the complete advisory from the Indian missions in the UAE.