Daman, the UAE’s largest healthcare insurer, has expanded into Qatar with the launch of Daman Health Insurance Qatar, it was reported this week.
“The establishment of this new operation is a proud moment for us and strengthens our presence in the region. Qatar is a growing market and this step is an integral part of our strategic growth plan through our partnership with Munich Health,” said Khaled Al Qubaisi, chairman of Daman.
Daman, which has operated in the UAE for six years and has around 2.1m customers, will be Qatar’s first specialised health insurer.
A recent study published by the Qatar Financial Services Authority shows that 60 per cent of the insurance industry’s top executives are confident that the insurance sector will grow at a rate higher than the Gulf state’s GDP, the WAM news agency reported.
Last month, it was reported that a Qatari government body has proposed implementing a healthcare policy whereby nationals would be given preferential treatment.
The recommendation by the Gulf state’s advisory council, if green-lighted by the government, would mean Qataris would be prioritised over expats for hospital appointments, medical care and treatment, Gulf Times reported.
The council also pushed to expand existing hospitals to serve a broader range of needs, including daycare and emergencies, as well as building laboratories.
In February, Qatar announced plans to set up a new government body to help improve healthcare within the country.
The Primary Health Care Corporation (PHCC) was setup by royal decree of Qatar ruler HH Sheikh Hamad Bin Khalifa Al Thani.
The PHCC will oversee all healthcare centres in the Gulf state and will be tasked with improving and monitoring standards of basic healthcare.
The moves to improve the healthcare sector come as it was reported Qatar is the obesity capital of the world.
The energy-rich Gulf State, which was ranked by Forbes this year as the world’s wealthiest country, has seen an increase in obesity related health problems, according to a report in the UK’s Daily Mail.
Half of all adults in the state are classed as obese and 17 percent are suffering from diabetes, making it the most overweight country in the world, the report said.
By way of comparison, a third of Americans are classed as obese and eight percent suffer from diabetes.
An unhealthy combination of low levels of exercise and a growing popularity of fast food outlets has led to concern among local health activists.
“It’s a very, very serious problem facing the future of Qatar,” Sharoud Al-Jundi Matthis, the programme manager at the Qatar Diabetes Association, was quoted as saying.
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