Dubai’s health services are internationally recognized to be of good quality and comparable to other developed countries. Hospitals, which boast of with their modern facilities, are strategically located to ensure accessibility. There are about 20 clinics and hospitals distributed across the Emirate. The ratio of clinics/hospitals to patients is 1:78,000. Dubai does not have obligatory state or employer contribution insurance schemes.
Dubai’s public health care is run by the Department of Health and Medical Services (DOHMS). It provides free or very low cost medical services for UAE residents. There are also private health care providers. Many of these practitioners are foreign health professionals trained in their home countries. Most of them come from USA, India, Egypt, Europe, and Pakistan. Their qualifications are carefully verified before they can practice health care in Dubai.
In general, Dubai aims to improve the over-all well being of its people. Its strategy is to provide patient-specific care. The most popular medical services provided by health care providers in Dubai include: a) immunizations and vaccinations, b) psychiatric treatments, c) medical fitness, d) community services such as marriage and family counseling, e) adult and infant yoga therapy, f) rehabilitation, and g) education on health and nutrition, among others.
One of the good practices of medical professionals in Dubai is the post-clinic private medical calls which is considered as part of their responsibilities. Everyone is equally provided with appropriate medical attention regardless of residency and nationality. Normally, first diagnostic visit to a private doctor costs £40 excluding other required medical examinations. Post-clinic private consultations are charged higher than the regular clinic consultations. Night-time calls may run up to more than £70. Doctors issue receipts which the patients can reimburse to their insurance, if any.
The biggest medical project the emirate has undertaken is the Dubai Healthcare City, where a Medical Center, teaching hospital, the Harvard Medical School Dubai Center and the Boston University Institute of Dental Research and Education Dubai are located.
Dubai’s public health care is run by the Department of Health and Medical Services (DOHMS). It provides free or very low cost medical services for UAE residents. There are also private health care providers. Many of these practitioners are foreign health professionals trained in their home countries. Most of them come from USA, India, Egypt, Europe, and Pakistan. Their qualifications are carefully verified before they can practice health care in Dubai.
In general, Dubai aims to improve the over-all well being of its people. Its strategy is to provide patient-specific care. The most popular medical services provided by health care providers in Dubai include: a) immunizations and vaccinations, b) psychiatric treatments, c) medical fitness, d) community services such as marriage and family counseling, e) adult and infant yoga therapy, f) rehabilitation, and g) education on health and nutrition, among others.
One of the good practices of medical professionals in Dubai is the post-clinic private medical calls which is considered as part of their responsibilities. Everyone is equally provided with appropriate medical attention regardless of residency and nationality. Normally, first diagnostic visit to a private doctor costs £40 excluding other required medical examinations. Post-clinic private consultations are charged higher than the regular clinic consultations. Night-time calls may run up to more than £70. Doctors issue receipts which the patients can reimburse to their insurance, if any.
The biggest medical project the emirate has undertaken is the Dubai Healthcare City, where a Medical Center, teaching hospital, the Harvard Medical School Dubai Center and the Boston University Institute of Dental Research and Education Dubai are located.
Private Health Care Insurance in Dubai
Health care insurance is not compulsory for all employers. Foreign workers may either obtain their own health insurance or apply for a health card issued by the DOHMS. Public hospitals only accept foreign patients with health cards but on an emergency basis only.This was echoed in Dubai Expat Forum last April 27, 2009:
No, it certainly is not free in Dubai. All healthcare is private and you will need to make your own arrangements.
When choosing private health insurance companies or health maintenance organizations, the amount of cover, the health cases that can be covered, and the general medical benefits that can be obtained by the insured should be looked at.
Expatriates used to constitute about 75% of public hospitals’ patient burden. Thus beginning 2001, medical services are no longer free to expatriates but are still provided with high subsidies. Come 2004, only foreign patients required for admission are accepted by public hospitals. Discount is only provided to cover room rates but other services while in the hospital are unsubsidized. However, life threatening emergency cases are provided free of charge.
Public hospitals offer the most number of surgical procedures. However, private health insurance in Dubai has no provision to allow procedures to be done in public hospitals so they go to private health practitioners just to avoid from personally paying for the procedure.
All in all, expats declared in Dubai Expat Forum last December 5, 2008 that:
but from I have learned the healthcare system is very good, and hospitals very sophisticated. In most cases stronger than the US and UK. I understand health insurance can be very pricey, but a lot of times your employer will pay for it.