Complete health cover for govt staff in Dubai
The Dubai government yesterday announced a comprehensive health insurance programme for public employees and their dependants.
Government employees, including UAE nationals and expatriates, will now have access to a range of healthcare services and facilities for the first time.
According to a Dubai Health Authority (DHA) official, the scheme would be based on the categories and ranks of the employees.
Commenting on the new scheme, Ahmad bin Byat, Secretary-General of the Executive Council said, “Our employees are our most important asset and their continued good health remains one of our key priorities. Therefore, following the introduction of the new law, the government has made a commitment to providing a comprehensive healthcare cover for all its employees as well as their dependants.” As per directions from the Executive Council, the Human Resources departments of each government entity will be writing to each employee shortly with full details of the new scheme.
The Director-General of DHA, Qadhi Al Murooshid said, “Health is at the forefront of the government’s agenda. The government’s commitment to its own staff is recognition that the health of the nation remains central to the continued and sustained growth of Dubai, both now and into the future.”
In an earlier statement he had said that the DHA was also on schedule to make a full announcement on the health funding proposals later this year.
“Once approved, the health funding proposals will be rolled out and administered by the DHA this year and beyond. It would be premature for me to elaborate on what the final recommendations will contain until the proposals have first been considered by the government. But it will reflect a balance drawn from the consultation programme.”
He also said that the report by the Health Insurance Committee (HIC) had already been completed in December 2007. The report is currently under review by the Dubai government.
The DHA also carried out a consultation and engagement programme that helped formulate the final proposals for the funding programme. During the consultation and engagement programme, the committee held wide-scale discussions with medical establishments, employers, representatives of business and social groups across Dubai, and over 40 of the biggest insurance companies based in the Middle East. The committee also consulted healthcare experts in over 10 countries, and created the international advisory Think Tank comprising five of the world’s leading healthcare economists.
“We have reviewed a number of models and structures, some based on an insurance system, others without it and some involving a variety of different combinations. Either way, there will be significant opportunities for the both the public and private healthcare sectors, as Dubai grows and expands, not only by improving standards and facilities but also by responding to the continuing growth,” he added.
“Health funding and insurance continues to have an important role in the financing of any advanced healthcare system,” he added.
Meanwhile, earlier this year during the Arab Health Conference and Exhibition, officials said establishment of a federal health insurance authority to regulate the industry across the UAE had moved a step further.
Compulsory insurance for residents and visitors of Dubai is in the pilot stages and will be completely in place by the end of 2008, said Al Murooshid.
He said that the HIC had sent its recommendations to the Federal National Council (FNC) for approval and work on the pilot project would start soon while the system would be introduced in phases.
Abu Dhabi has already introduced compulsory health insurance for expats and their dependants. While Dubai will roll out its plan this year, other emirates are expected to follow suit gradually.
Officials pointed out that discussions on the introduction of a federal authority to regulate UAE standards in compulsory health insurance cover and diagnostics had been going on for a number of years, but current developments had gone further. Ministries such as Justice, Labour and Health are being consulted in this regard, they say. Source
Government employees, including UAE nationals and expatriates, will now have access to a range of healthcare services and facilities for the first time.
According to a Dubai Health Authority (DHA) official, the scheme would be based on the categories and ranks of the employees.
Commenting on the new scheme, Ahmad bin Byat, Secretary-General of the Executive Council said, “Our employees are our most important asset and their continued good health remains one of our key priorities. Therefore, following the introduction of the new law, the government has made a commitment to providing a comprehensive healthcare cover for all its employees as well as their dependants.” As per directions from the Executive Council, the Human Resources departments of each government entity will be writing to each employee shortly with full details of the new scheme.
The Director-General of DHA, Qadhi Al Murooshid said, “Health is at the forefront of the government’s agenda. The government’s commitment to its own staff is recognition that the health of the nation remains central to the continued and sustained growth of Dubai, both now and into the future.”
In an earlier statement he had said that the DHA was also on schedule to make a full announcement on the health funding proposals later this year.
“Once approved, the health funding proposals will be rolled out and administered by the DHA this year and beyond. It would be premature for me to elaborate on what the final recommendations will contain until the proposals have first been considered by the government. But it will reflect a balance drawn from the consultation programme.”
He also said that the report by the Health Insurance Committee (HIC) had already been completed in December 2007. The report is currently under review by the Dubai government.
The DHA also carried out a consultation and engagement programme that helped formulate the final proposals for the funding programme. During the consultation and engagement programme, the committee held wide-scale discussions with medical establishments, employers, representatives of business and social groups across Dubai, and over 40 of the biggest insurance companies based in the Middle East. The committee also consulted healthcare experts in over 10 countries, and created the international advisory Think Tank comprising five of the world’s leading healthcare economists.
“We have reviewed a number of models and structures, some based on an insurance system, others without it and some involving a variety of different combinations. Either way, there will be significant opportunities for the both the public and private healthcare sectors, as Dubai grows and expands, not only by improving standards and facilities but also by responding to the continuing growth,” he added.
“Health funding and insurance continues to have an important role in the financing of any advanced healthcare system,” he added.
Meanwhile, earlier this year during the Arab Health Conference and Exhibition, officials said establishment of a federal health insurance authority to regulate the industry across the UAE had moved a step further.
Compulsory insurance for residents and visitors of Dubai is in the pilot stages and will be completely in place by the end of 2008, said Al Murooshid.
He said that the HIC had sent its recommendations to the Federal National Council (FNC) for approval and work on the pilot project would start soon while the system would be introduced in phases.
Abu Dhabi has already introduced compulsory health insurance for expats and their dependants. While Dubai will roll out its plan this year, other emirates are expected to follow suit gradually.
Officials pointed out that discussions on the introduction of a federal authority to regulate UAE standards in compulsory health insurance cover and diagnostics had been going on for a number of years, but current developments had gone further. Ministries such as Justice, Labour and Health are being consulted in this regard, they say. Source
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