Insurance companies and some hospitals and medical centres in the UAE are clashing over a proposal by the health facilities to increase their fees in the coming year.
The insurance companies feel the increases, which in some cases may be as high as 45 per cent, are unreasonable, while the hospitals and medical centres believe the new charges simply reflect inflation.
But while the elephants fight, the grass suffers: one way or the other, any increase in the cost of medical treatment will ultimately be covered by those who are in need of their services.
Hospitals must be allowed to charge a fee that covers their real costs and enables them to invest in new medical technology and staff, as well as earn a reasonable profit. In turn, the insurance companies must be able to ensure that their revenue does not exceed their costs, so that they can remain a sustainable business.
However, both have a responsibility to ensure that medical services remain affordable and accessible to those that need them and prices must be set in an open and transparent manner. This is good business practice for what is an essential service for residents of the UAE.
