"Try to forget about the pain," is what a doctor advised a patient suffering from ulcers in his stomach.  To many, that advice would leave a bad impression, mainly considering it came from a medical doctor. However, stories about patients being misdiagnosed, ignored or not treated are everyday.

People tend to put their trust in doctors and expect solutions. However, what some patients find is that doctors' recommendations don't make sense at times as doctors damage the trust that is supposed to be between them.

Ahmed Saleh Al-Nuairah has had numerous bad experiences with doctors, mainly when doctors failed to diagnose his pain. "I had some problems with my gullet (esophagus), ulcer mainly. A doctor prescribed for gave me Nexium pills for two years straight, and I started having really bad side effects like weight gains and joint pains," said Al-Nuairah. "After the side effects became a serious problem, I went to Egypt, doctors told me that Nexium should only be prescribed for no more than a month," said Al-Nuairah with a look of fear on his face. He added that his stomach is now more sensitive and furiously asked, "whose fault is that?

Sadly, patients are also forced to wait a long time to be seen in emergency rooms. Once diagnosed, they are immediately sent out to buy their own drugs from pharmacies. However, many patients cannot buy medicines and simply do not return, going back home with their wounds and illnesses remain untreated.

Nineteen year-old Ameerah Alawi refuses to go to dentists as she is afraid of them. "My brother went to take out a tooth, and with no care the dentist pulled out the wrong tooth," she said. She adds that when her brother told the dentist that it was the wrong tooth, the dentist shouted at him and said  that he knows how to do his job.

Others have had near-death experiences. Fadl Ahmed had an unpleasant incident after doctors ruined his kidney by making him go through a surgical operation one year ago. "I was in so much pain. Doctors didn't figure out the pain," said Ahmed who said he went to many doctors in the country seeking treatment for his kidney. "They made me go through surgical operation and no one had diagnosed the pain. It wasn't working properly and poison was spreading throughout my body," Ahmed said.

Frustrated, he decided to get some tests done at a private hospital. A doctor there figured out the problem and gave him a transfer document to a neighboring country. "I was pretty much dying, but I guess I left in the right time... Thank god, not the doctor"!

"Seeing more than one doctor should not be something people want to do every time they get sick, said Nawal Saleh."Who are we supposed to trust?" She also added that she's doesn't trust doctors when she gets sick she only goes to pharmacies and buy medicines.

"If the doctor is your friend or relative, you will receive better treatment as people believe that in Yemen everything is all about who you know, even when it comes to doctors," said 43 year-old Abdul Wahid Al-Dahri.

Dr. Husni Al-Goshae, Deputy Director at the Science and Technology Hospital and University Professor said that in the past, some diseases were difficult to treat in Yemen, but now all resources are available and local doctors can deal even with the most difficult operations such as renal transplantation and open heart surgery. "All resources and facilities are now provided, and there is no explanation for why many people travel abroad for medical services," Al-Goshae said.

Meanwhile Al-Goshae added that: "Once I attended a conference I attended in UK on medical mistakes. “In a conference, it was noticed that mistakes in UK hospitals represented 7%.  If we compare this to mistakes in our local hospitals, we will find that there is no big difference between the two situations".