FNC questions delay in rollout of health insurance scheme

Abu Dhabi: Members of the Federal National Council (FNC) on Tuesday demanded that a comprehensive health insurance scheme for citizens across the UAE be fast-tracked. They also sought an increase in the federal healthcare budget, with special emphasis on medical services in northern emirates.

Ahmad Abdullah Al Amash, a member from Ras Al Khaimah, said the House has repeatedly raised the issue of an umbrella health insurance for citizens since 2009, but a legislation to regulate such an insurance scheme has never seen light of day ever since.

“We sought the minimum standard of healthcare for citizens in the northern emirates, but our demands have never been met and moreover health funds were reduced in the 2014 budget,” Al Amash said.

He said 10 out of 19 health programmes and nearly half of the health facilities lacked funds.

Dr Anwar Mohammad Gargash, Minister of State for FNC Affairs, admitted that a federal law on health insurance for citizens was long delayed.

Dr Gargash, however, stressed the Government was committed to a “balanced development across the UAE that raises the standard of living of each and every citizen”.

Cabinet retreat

He cited the recent Cabinet retreat, which approved a raft of measures to improve the country’s health sector, including a system to evaluate hospitals and health clinics and measure customer satisfaction.

The ministerial retreat on Sir Bani Yas Island also backed plans to introduce an e-healthcare programme to deliver primary health care services to remote regions, especially to elderly people.

The Cabinet also passed a package of measures to address obesity and promote healthy lifestyles, which includes limiting the size of fizzy drinks and imposing controls on advertisement of unhealthy foods.

Other initiatives approved by senior government officials included a comprehensive screening programme for every UAE citizen in a bid to enhance disease prevention and launching an early cancer detection programme.

Dr Gargash blamed the delay on the legislative cycle each law must go through and efforts to harmonise local insurance systems with the federal scheme. He promised that the government will work closely with local health authorities to improve the situation and fast-track the federal insurance scheme.

Members of the House say there is a distinction to be made between healthcare in Abu Dhabi and Dubai, on the one hand, and the northern emirates. Al Amash said the two biggest emirates have health services that are well-funded; in many regards, health care there is a long way ahead that in other emirates.

He suggested current health budgets for the northern emirates be increased to improve service.

The House’s health committee, on a fact-finding visit there, saw some problems first-hand, including shortage of facilities, medical and administrative staff and hospital equipment.