Dubai unveils universal coverage plan

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AL MUROOSHID: A buoyant healthcare sector is vital to Dubai's future growth and prosperity.

Dubai has released details of its new universal healthcare system for residents and citizens.

Starting from January next year, between AED 500-800 per person, per annum must be paid into a Central Health Fund.

According to a statement, this system will allow residents access to basic and essential medical care. This will include services such as child immunisation, outpatient care and emergency care.

The government will pay for UAE nationals and employers must cover their employees. Employers can choose to cover spouses and children or leave it up to the employee.

Qadhi Saeed Al Murooshid, director general of the Dubai Health Authority, said: 'A dynamic and well regulated health sector is important to our future growth and prosperity. A happy and prosperous society is a healthy and productive one.'

"Health affects us all, whoever we may be, as we will all be a patient at some point in our lives. What we hope is that there is a high quality, accessible and affordable healthcare system in place to look after us when we need it."

Al Murooshid said that DHA will be responsible for delivering a health strategy that protects and improves the quality of care for everyone in Dubai.

DHA intends to promote international accreditation of all healthcare services and promote partnership between the public and private sectors in an effort to attract international experience and expertise to the region.

To use the system, each individual will register at a clinic in Dubai and will pay a minimal charge for each visit, regardless of the treatment. A figure of AED 25 has been reported.

Al Murooshid also confirmed that the DHA will be separated from all health service delivery. Within the new structure, the DHA will not be directly responsible for providing health services in Dubai.

In future, services will be delivered by a government owned public corporation, separate from the DHA. This will allow the DHA to focus on being an independent regulator.

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