UAE | Health
Dubai plans new health coverage
Sponsors must pay Dh500 to Dh800 annually for each beneficiary to fund a new health coverage system will be implemented from January next year.
- By Nina Muslim, Staff Reporter
- Published: 23:36 June 9, 2008
- Image Credit: Gulf News Archive
- The health fund entitles each individual to basic and essential services, such as child immunisation and outpatient care. Image used for illustrative purpose only.
Dubai: A new health coverage system will be implemented in Dubai from January next year. It will allow residents access to basic and essential medical care through a central fund paid for by sponsors, a senior official said.
Each sponsor must pay between Dh500 and Dh800 annually to the Central Health Fund, for each beneficiary. The government will pay the fee for UAE nationals and employer for his or her employees. Husbands or parents will have to pay for their spouse and children.
Simon Hodges, senior adviser with the Dubai Executive Council, said employers would not be required to pay for their employees' family.
"When it comes to dependents, the sponsors will be obliged to cover the costs of those individuals. If the employer chooses to pay for the individuals [dependents of employees], the system will allow that," he said.
Benefits
The health fund entitles each individual to basic and essential services, such as child immunisation and outpatient care, at a Dubai clinic as well as emergency care. Plans are afoot to include cancer treatment to the list of services. Individuals may also supplement their health coverage with a private insurance policy.
Qadi Saeed Al Muroshid, director-general of Dubai Health Authority, told reporters that this was the most equitable system.
"The reason behind the change is to improve the healthcare service in Dubai - we believe the people of Dubai, national or non-national, they deserve a higher quality of service [to make] Dubai a safer and healthier place to work," he said.
Registration
To access the system, each individual has to register at a clinic in Dubai. Residents will only have to pay Dh25 per visit to the clinic regardless of the ailment. The current system tailors the cost to the treatment received.
The new system also opens public and private healthcare facilities to all residents.
Under the present system, only health card holders may access public healthcare facilities, while privately-insured individuals are restricted to private facilities.
But for people who work in Dubai but live in other emirates, such as Sharjah, they may have to separately pay for healthcare if they go to facilities outside Dubai.
Al Muroshid said they are planning to integrate the healthcare funding system with the rest of the UAE.
"The way we are planning our system, [we will be integrating] at the local and federal level," he added.
Latest news
- For this maestro, it's all about the sound
- Experts can't tell old instruments from new
- Sound of violins
- Facilitators: Helping others find joy
- Get friends on board, zip away with Salik bonus
- Abu Dhabi buildings to be clutter-free
- Mohammad holds talks with South Korea president
- Volunteers remove garbage from Mamzar beach
- Clean-up campaign set to raise awareness
- Sharjah landmarks bathed in light
- In the pursuit of happiness
- Dubai hospitals debut life-saving procedure
- Four poised to chase their dreams
- UK’s top Arab advocacy group in need of aid
- 10 things not to do on Valentine's Day
Community Reports
-
Bridges needed
Al Ittihad Road has no pedestrian facilities as one nears Sharjah
-
Street lights needed
Authorities urged to act with haste before a major accident occurs in Al Nahda, Dubai
-
Motorists ignore stop sign on buses
Overtaking school vehicles can put students' lives at risk
-
Safety regulations flouted at Dubai work place
In Al Nahda 2, two workers were seen working on the crane boom at a height of 20m without a full body harness or safety net in violation of rules
