assignment 14

HEALTH CARE SYSTEM IN THE UNITED ARAB EMIRATES (UAE)

Introduction

The UAE is made up of 7 emirates and is a federation of hereditary absolute monarchies with varying degrees of Islamic religious conservatism. Those with higher oil wealth and greater resources developed more quickly, as did their health care systems. The highest standards of health care are in Dubai and in Abu Dhabi. The UAE has undergone a very rapid demographic transition. In 2013 the UAE's total population was 9.2 million, of which 1.4 million are Emirati citizens and 7.8 million are expatriates. The country is self-sufficient and manages all its health care funding requirements from domestic revenue sources.

Healthcare in the UAE

The health care system in UAE is a mixed public-private system. There is a public system for Emiratis with centralized management and financing models and there is a large and growing private sector in the main urban centers.

Public health care is organized in 2 tiers:

Primary care is delivered through primary healthcare centers in various levels based on location and size of population served.

Hospital care is delivered through general and central specialized hospitals. Emiratis reflect a general lack of confidence in public medical facilities due to lack of local expertise and perceived high costs of care. There is a national strategy in place to reform public healthcare delivery services and to improve quality and efficiency. Private health care services are increasing at a rapid rate everywhere in the UAE through clinics, private hospitals and medical cities. The number of private hospitals (43) exceeds the number of public hospitals (31). This growth has been driven by the large numbers of foreign workers and expatriates who are usually not allowed to use Ministry of Health facilities except for emergencies. Cost of health care in the private sector is high and increasing at over 13% annually.

Hospitals in the UAE

Public medical facilities in UAE are well-organized with a high standard of care. They are dedicated to the needs of the local population, may be overcrowded due to high demand, and are not user-friendly for foreigners and expatriates. Sophisticated medical care is available at all private hospitals and clinics, however quality can be variable, caution is advised.

Medical staff are well-trained, usually expatriates and English is spoken universally. Nursing care is usually by expatriate nurses from all over the world, commonly from Philippines. Private hospitals do not usually deal with major trauma, certain complex emergencies, and other specified pathologies, which remain in the public domain as a matter of policy.

The Healthcare Sector in the United Arab Emirates

Global Healthcare Sector is Growing Rapidly Healthcare is one of the most rapidly growing sectors of the global economy, with global expenditure totaling $7,682 million in 2015. According to estimates by the EIU The Economist Intelligence Unit, health spending will accelerate in most countries, rising to an average of 5.2% a year in 2014- 18, equal to $9.3 trillion. This increase will be driven by the needs of aging and growing populations, the prevalence of chronic diseases, emerging market expansion, infrastructure improvements, and advances in treatment and technology. Yet there will also be increased pressure to reduce costs and maximize savings.

Currently, despite efforts by the private and public sectors, indicators such as the density of provision of beds, doctors and nurses in the region lag those in developed economies. The average number of beds per 1,000 people in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries was 1.9 in 2012, compared to three beds in Singapore, the UK and the US, and more than eight in Germany. Average healthcare expenditure as a percentage of gross domestic product (GDP) in the GCC is estimated to be 2.3%, compared to 7.6% in the UK and 8.1% in the US in 2013.

In the United Arab Emirates, the healthcare sector has witnessed an extended period of high growth, which is forecast to continue, driven by the gap between supply and demand.

Healthcare has proven to be one of the most resilient sectors in the UAE despite the current economic downturn. The UAE’s 2021 Vision states that “the UAE [will] …invest continually to build world-class healthcare infrastructure, expertise and services in order to fulfil citizens’ growing needs and expectations.”

The healthcare structure in the UAE

The healthcare structure in the UAE is different to that of its neighbors in that Abu Dhabi and Dubai have their own healthcare regulators. There are four regulators in the UAE:

· The Ministry of Health

· Health Authority Abu Dhabi (HAAD)

· Dubai Health Authority (DHA)

· Dubai Healthcare City Free Zone

Each entity has responsibility for facilities, licensing of doctors and nurses and market regulation within its jurisdiction. The Ministry of Health continues to play a pivotal role in providing healthcare, but it is not the only actor in the UAE healthcare system.

Global Trends in Healthcare Innovation

Healthcare communities generate scientific, medical, and care delivery breakthroughs that can improve health worldwide. Innovation in healthcare has long been associated with new medicines, enhanced technology for healthcare devices and advances in surgical procedures. There is, however, more to healthcare innovation than new drugs and instruments. The organizational aspect of healthcare is a source of some of the most radical innovations, particularly with the development of digital technologies which represent a huge opportunity to transform the healthcare sector in way that increases efficiency as well as quality.

Industry experts point to three core domains driving innovation in the healthcare sector:

1) Data science innovation

Big data offers vast potential for the healthcare sector. Previous innovations have relied on limited datasets, largely from clinical research or research projects. Today, for the first time, the healthcare sector can collect life-long datasets. Sources including medical and insurance records, wearable sensors, genetic data and social media use can be used to personalize care, contain epidemics, and prevent chronic illnesses through predictive modelling techniques.

2) The genetic revolution

Thanks to data science and the human genome project, we now know the genetic traits of a population, and can identify genetic differences. The healthcare sector is moving towards ‘precision medicine’, an emerging approach to treatment and prevention that takes into account variations in genes, environment and lifestyle. Although it is not yet used in diagnosing most diseases, the trend is clearly shifting away from ‘one size fits all’ medicines

3) Enhanced communication technologies, digital & video images

Delivery of healthcare services is changing; they can now be directly delivered by experts from a distance. It is now technically possible to prescribe a drug remotely, although the practice is still in its early days. The possibilities with this type of technologies are endless; prescribed medicines can be delivered to remote areas via drones, as happened in July 2015 in rural Virginia, USA. 8 Cases of chronic disease can be monitored via data transfer without any effort from the patient.

Health insurance system

Health insurance for UAE nationals

Abu Dhabi

Under the ' Thiqa' program, Abu Dhabi Government provides full medical coverage for all UAE nationals living in Abu Dhabi. Citizens get a Thiqa card, through which they get comprehensive access to a large number of private and public healthcare providers registered within Daman's network. It also includes broader geographical coverage and extra health benefits.

In order to qualify for the Thiqa program, UAE nationals living in Abu Dhabi who are 18 to 75 years old need to undergo the ' Weqaya' screening run by the Department of Health - Abu Dhabi. The health check is done in order to identify cardiovascular risk factors, and may be waived only in exceptional cases.

Amendments to insurance program

The Department of Health in Abu Dhabi announced a number of amendments to health insurance programs to both the 'Thiqa' plan and the Abu Dhabi Basic Plan. The amendments came into effect from 1 July 2016. They were designed to utilize the health insurance system in increasing overall efficiency across the sector to better meet current and future demands.

Dubai

Saada is a health insurance program for the citizens in the emirate of Dubai. It provides insurance coverage to citizens who do not currently benefit from any government health program in the emirate of Dubai. The program provides treatment through a large network of healthcare providers in the private sector and DHA healthcare centers. Citizens' Emirates ID card carries details of the Saada program they are subscribed to.

Health insurance for resident expatriates

The extent of coverage for employers and their dependents is determined by the employee's salary, designation etc. The extent of coverage and type of policy/scheme would determine the cost of your medical services.

In the emirate of Abu Dhabi, employers and sponsors are responsible for the providing health insurance coverage for their employees and their families (1 spouse and 3 children under 18 years).

In the emirate of Dubai, employers are required to provide health insurance coverage for their employees. Sponsors are required to get insurance cover for their resident dependents.

There are several insurance companies in the UAE. Many also provide Islamic insurance (takaful). The website of Insurance Authority provides a list of registered insurance companies in the UAE.

References

United Arab Emirates - Healthcare ServicesUnited Arab Emirates - Healthcare. (n.d.). Retrieved December 17, 2017, from https://www.export.gov/article?id=United-Arab-Emirates-Healthcare-Services

A. (n.d.). Healthcare in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) - Support. Retrieved December 17, 2017, from https://www.allianzworldwidecare.com/en/support/view/national-healthcare-systems/healthcare-in-uae/

https://centres.insead.edu/innovation-policy/publications/documents/HealthcareBrief_000.pdf

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24228347

https://government.ae/en/information-and-services/health-and-fitness/health-insurance

http://apps.who.int/medicinedocs/documents/s17313e/s17313e.pdf