Top hospital denies scrapping free cancer care

The state-run Abu Dhabi Health Service Company (SEHA) has denied reports that its largest oncology centre has scrapped free cancer treatment for Emiratis and hard-up expatriates.

A report in Al Emarat Al Youm newspaper had claimed Tawam Hospital, the UAE’s largest provider of oncology care, had told patients that they would now be charged up to AED200,000 ($54,450) for treatment.

Patients quoted in the story, some of whom had been receiving treatment at Tawam for several years, claimed administrative staff had said only certain patients insured with Daman, Abu Dhabi’s state-supported insurance provider, would qualify for free care.

Nationals would need to be registered with Daman’s Thiqa insurance scheme to receive free treatment, the paper claimed.

Health insurance became mandatory for Abu Dhabi residents in January 2007.

Patients also said they had been warned they would only be able to receive treatment in their home emirates in the future. As the UAE’s largest cancer center, Tawam receives a large number of referrals as it offers treatment therapies that are not available at other hospitals.

In a statement, SEHA said that all hospitals in its portfolio offered free treatment to Emiratis and make exemptions for uninsured expatriates “in accordance with set rules”

“Medical assistance programmes are put into effect by SEHA management to exempt patients who can’t afford paying for high cost services such as surgical, chemo, or radiation treatment,” the statement added.

No spokesperson at Tawam Hospital was available to comment.

Although a state-owned hospital, Tawam is managed by John Hopkins International, a well-known US healthcare chain, as part of a 10-year contract with the Abu Dhabi government.

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