The Dubai Health Authority (DHA) is a government organization overseeing the health system of
Dubai
Dubai (, ; ar, دبي, translit=Dubayy, , ) is the most populous city in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and the capital of the Emirate of Dubai, the most populated of the 7 emirates of the United Arab Emirates.The Government and Politics of ...
,
United Arab Emirates
The United Arab Emirates (UAE; ar, اَلْإِمَارَات الْعَرَبِيَة الْمُتَحِدَة ), or simply the Emirates ( ar, الِْإمَارَات ), is a country in Western Asia (The Middle East). It is located at th ...
.
Background
The Dubai Health Authority (DHA) was formed in 2007 under the directives of
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum ( ar, محمد بن راشد آل مكتوم, links=no; ; born 15 July 1949) is the vice president, prime minister, and minister of defence of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) as well as the ruler of Dubai. H ...
, the
Vice President
A vice president, also director in British English, is an officer in government or business who is below the president (chief executive officer) in rank. It can also refer to executive vice presidents, signifying that the vice president is on t ...
,
Prime Minister
A prime minister, premier or chief of cabinet is the head of the cabinet and the leader of the ministers in the executive branch of government, often in a parliamentary or semi-presidential system. Under those systems, a prime minister is not ...
, and
Ruler of Dubai
The Ruler of Dubai is the position of the hereditary monarch and head of government of the Emirate of Dubai, one of the six ruling families of the UAE. The Ruler is also considered the head of the House of Maktoum, the royal family of Dubai. Af ...
. The program was launched in March 2008.
Before the DHA was established, the body overseeing healthcare in the emirate was known as the Department of Health and Medical Services, which was established in 1973.
Beyond general oversight of Dubai's healthcare sector the DHA provides healthcare services through hospitals and other facilities that fall under its direct jurisdiction. These include
Latifa Hospital
Latifa Hospital, previously known as Al Wasl Hospital, is a public hospital in Dubai that provides medical care specifically for women and children. In April 2012, it was renamed Latifa Hospital in memory of Sheikha Latifa bint Hamdan bin Zayed A ...
,
Dubai Hospital
Dubai Hospital is a public hospital in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, and is part of Dubai Department of Health and Medical Services.
Although the decision to construct Dubai Hospital was made in 1977, it did not begin admitting patients until Ma ...
,
Rashid Hospital
Rashid Hospital (in Arabic language, Arabic: ) is a 786-bed general medical/surgical hospital in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates, and is a part of the Dubai Health Authority. Built in 1973, it is the city's second oldest hospital, and is located on ...
and Hatta Hospital, in addition to other specialty centres and DHA primary
health centre
A healthcare center, health center, or community health center is one of a network of clinics staffed by a group of general practitioners and nurses providing healthcare services to people in a certain area. Typical services covered are family pr ...
s throughout Dubai.
Other aspects of the DHA's services are:
*Creating and ensuring the execution of policies and strategies for healthcare in Dubai's public and private healthcare sectors.
*Enabling partnerships between healthcare providers.
*Licensing and regulating medical professionals and facilities.
History
The Dubai Health Authority co-sponsored the 10th Annual International Conference on Medical Regulation, which took place at the
Ottawa Convention Centre
The Shaw Centre (formerly the Ottawa Convention Centre) is a convention centre located in the downtown core of Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. It opened in April 2011. The Centre replaces the Ottawa Congress Centre, which opened in 1983 and is built on t ...
in
Ontario, Canada
Ontario ( ; ) is one of the thirteen provinces and territories of Canada.Ontario is located in the geographic eastern half of Canada, but it has historically and politically been considered to be part of Central Canada. Located in Central C ...
in October 2012.
Dubai Healthcare Reform
In November 2013, the Dubai Health Authority announced a new law that aimed to make sure that every person in Dubai had their own health insurance. Beyond ensuring that both locals and expats in Dubai would have access to affordable and quality medical care when needed, the law would also attract
foreign investment to Dubai's healthcare sector and reduce much of the burden that healthcare costs put on the public at large.
The law, known as the Insurance System for Advancing Healthcare in Dubai (ISAHD), is to be rolled out in several steps in order to help individuals and businesses adjust and adapt. These phases are as follows:
Phase 1 - October 31, 2014: By this date
companies
A company, abbreviated as co., is a legal entity representing an association of people, whether natural, legal or a mixture of both, with a specific objective. Company members share a common purpose and unite to achieve specific, declared go ...
with 1,000 or more
employees
Employment is a relationship between two parties regulating the provision of paid labour services. Usually based on a contract, one party, the employer, which might be a corporation, a not-for-profit organization, a co-operative, or any othe ...
must provide health insurance for all of their employees.
Phase 2 – July 31, 2015: By this date companies with 100 or more employees must provide health insurance for all of their employees.
Phase 3 – June 30, 2016: By this date companies with any number of employees must provide health insurance for all of their employees. Additionally, employed individuals will have to have made arrangements to insure any of their
dependents
A dependant is a person who relies on another as a primary source of income. A common-law spouse who is financially supported by their partner may also be included in this definition. In some jurisdictions, supporting a dependant may enabl ...
, and families will have to arrange to insure any
domestic workers
A domestic worker or domestic servant is a person who works within the scope of a residence. The term "domestic service" applies to the equivalent occupational category. In traditional English contexts, such a person was said to be "in service ...
in their employ by this date.
Under the reform,
employers
Employment is a relationship between two party (law), parties Regulation, regulating the provision of paid Labour (human activity), labour services. Usually based on a employment contract, contract, one party, the employer, which might be a co ...
are required to arrange for and bear the cost of their employees’
health insurance
Health insurance or medical insurance (also known as medical aid in South Africa) is a type of insurance that covers the whole or a part of the risk of a person incurring medical expenses. As with other types of insurance, risk is shared among ma ...
, and are not able to merely provide an allowance for the insurance that their employees would then use to find insurance on their own. According to Dr. Al Yousuf, Director of Health Funding at the DHA, companies that fail to adhere to the new law can face penalties including a monthly fine for each employee not covered, or even the non-renewal of trade licenses.
While UAE nationals who are Dubai residents will be the responsibility of the
Dubai government The Government of Dubai ( ar, حكومة دبي) is the subnational authority that governs the Emirate of Dubai, one of the seven constituent monarchies which make up the United Arab Emirates. The executive authority and head of the government is th ...
under the reform, foreign nationals coming to Dubai are required to have arranged for their own health insurance coverage prior to their arrival in the Emirate, and health insurance will be a pre-requisite for obtaining residency or a visit visa.
In order to operate selling health insurance in Dubai following the reform, insurers, TPAs, brokers and healthcare providers will all be required to obtain a permit from the DHA on an annual basis.
In order to control costs under the reform, the DHA has also established a price list for medical services that healthcare providers must adhere to.
As far as the requirements of health insurance products themselves, the DHA has mandated a minimum coverage that must be adhered to by all policies in the Emirate, although coverage that goes above and beyond the minimum is also allowed. Varying minimums have been set forth for UAE nationals, expatriate residents, and visitors. Specific medical services and treatments that are required under all basic health plans include:
In-Patient
*Tests
*Diagnosis
*Treatment
*Surgery
*Emergency treatment
Maternity
*Out-patient ante-natal
*In-patient maternity
*Newborn cover
Out-Patient
*Examination
*Diagnostics and treatment by general practitioners
*Specialists and consultants
*Laboratory testing
*Radiology diagnostic services
*Physiotherapy
*Medicines
*Vaccines and immunizations
*Diabetes screening
*Diagnostics and treatment for dental and gum treatment
*Hearing and vision aids
*Corrective laser and surgical treatment for vision
As a result of the reform, insurers in Dubai will no longer be allowed to deny coverage to individuals due to pre-existing and chronic condition exclusions after the first 6 months of coverage.
The maximum annual benefit limit for Basic Health Plans under the reform is AED150,000, excluding co-insurance and deductible payments. Furthermore, co-insurance payments on the part of the insured can be as high as 20%, and a General Practitioner will need to be seen, and a referral given, before the insured may consult with specialists.
Dubai Medical Tourism Club
Chaired by His Excellency Engineer Essa Al Maidoor, Director General of the Dubai Health Authority, the Dubai medical tourism club is an initiative which was established by the DHA to find ways to promote develop and sustain medical tourism in Dubai.
Al Maidoor stated “The idea behind the medical tourism club is to brainstorm and to receive feedback and suggestions from key industry experts so that the Authority and the private sector can work together to ensure we utilize all our resources to promote medical tourism in Dubai."
Furthermore, the goals of the medical tourism club include:
* Facilitating the Dubai medical tourism program
* Promoting medical tourism services in Dubai
* To collectively contribute to the Dubai medical tourism strategy by identifying new markets and services
Dr Layla Al Marzouqi, director of the DHA health regulation department and director of the Dubai medical tourism initiative, stated the standards to be a member of the club, saying: “There is an eligibility criterion for membership. While facility, physician and clinical requirements are essential to ensure quality and capability of health facilities; key hospitality requirements are needed to ensure medical tourists and their family members are comfortable.”
There of the 24 registered members, 15 are from hospitals, two are from day-care surgery centers and seven belong to multi-specialty clinics.
References
External links
Dubai Health Authority websiteDHA Exam preparation
{{Authority control
Healthcare in the United Arab Emirates
Government agencies of Dubai