Dubai: The implementation of the health insurance scheme will be a great step forward to quality health care in Dubai, according to Dr Sanjay Paithankar, managing director of Global Net, a Third Party Administrator servicing many insurance networks in Dubai. “At present, only 20 to 30 per cent of the blue collar workers have any kind of health insurance,” he says. “In the case of domestic help, only a marginal section enjoys any kind of medical benefits. There have been instances where some of those who cannot afford expensive hospital treatment find themselves in a distressing position because they are unable to foot the bill in case of an unforeseen medical problem. The new law will ensure that health care is made affordable to all.
“Healthcare requires public-private partnership to work well and when all the stakeholders - corporate companies, insurance providers and health providers - come together to deliver the best health care services, it will be a positive gain for the resident of Dubai.”
Currently, the government health spending is huge. In 2011, the Ministry of Health Abu Dhabi and Dubai Health Authority, together, had a health spending of Dh36 billion and in 2015, it is projected to go up to Dh40 billion. With an airtight health insurance cover for all in Dubai, the government will be able to control the spiralling costs of treating those who abuse the health care services.
