UAE: Is an employer liable for a worker’s emergency medical bills in Dubai?

Question: I am a restaurant owner. Last year, one of my employees fell ill and was admitted to the hospital as an emergency case. At the time, he did not have health insurance. The hospital filed a case against the restaurant, claiming that, as the legal sponsor, the restaurant is obligated to provide health insurance for its employees. Is the hospital justified in filing this lawsuit?

Answer: Articles 9, 10, and 11 of Law No. 11 of 2013 regarding health insurance in the Emirate of Dubai stipulate the responsibility and obligation of employers and sponsors to provide health insurance for their employees and sponsored individuals residing or visiting the emirate. The cost of subscribing to health insurance must be borne by the employer or sponsor, and they are prohibited from passing this cost on to the insured individuals. The law also imposes criminal penalties for violations of its provisions.

Specifically, Articles 10(4) and 11(4) require the employer or sponsor, in emergency cases, to bear the cost of health services and medical interventions for workers and sponsored persons who are not enrolled in the health insurance system. In such situations, the hospital is entitled to recover the treatment expenses from the employer or sponsor. The legal obligation to cover the cost of emergency treatment stems directly from the law itself.

The legislator intended to ensure that no individual is denied medical treatment or emergency health services in life-threatening situations or where immediate intervention is necessary to prevent serious harm.

Furthermore, Article 15(7) states that health facilities and hospitals are obligated to provide emergency treatment until the patient is out of danger, even if the patient is not covered by health insurance and even if the facility is not part of the approved network of health service providers under the insurance system.

Therefore, if it is confirmed through the worker’s residence visa that he is employed by a restaurant which failed to register him for health insurance, the restaurant will be held responsible for the cost of his emergency treatment in accordance with the law.