Captains wage x #months off work = huge added cost to EK ops . Dubai hospital cost were astronomical and service questionable. I do believe there was limitations on elective procedures . I know a handful guys that were off a number of times for months on end but left before the cull, probably would have been chopped. Myself including . I sure EK got kickbacks from hospitals. Or at least the "family" did. Pressure slowly increased on EK doctors to justify spending which in turn helped junior pilots as they were denied elective procedures ( more productive) . Older seniors guys would not fare well in the matrix .