Strides towards compulsory health insurance for all

Compulsory health insurance for all Dubai workers was one of the biggest strides forward in the health sector this year but there were other notable developments.

The year kicked off with the annual Arab Health conference in January, where representatives from across the region's health sector attended the Dubai World Trade Centre to discuss the latest innovations.

The year will also be remembered for new health technologies, from wearable technology to monitor fitness and health biometrics, to robotics taking on delicate procedures once reserved for highly-skilled surgeons.

This year saw Robo Doc, an interactive hospital robot that can allow specialists to remotely examine and diagnose patients, be widely used at Hatta Hospital.

Meanwhile, other health conferences were further chances to show off the latest gadgets and gizmos. In October the REX robotic exoskeleton was on show at GITEX in Dubai, displaying how the mechanical suit was helping disabled people get out of their wheelchairs and walk.

Amana Healthcare is likely to be one of the first to be using the technology at its rehabilitation centres in Al Ain and Abu Dhabi in 2016.

The effect of compulsory health insurance for workers in Dubai, however, was perhaps the biggest change seen in the country this year.

In June, the first Emirati health-insurance programme to focus on prevention rather than cure launched in Dubai as part of Government efforts to improve the nation's well-being.

The Saada scheme is for all Emiratis in Dubai who do not benefit from any other government-funded health-insurance cover and is expected to reach 130,000 people, offering them health care at 23 private hospitals and more than 500 medical clinics.

The mandatory health-insurance schemes for all employees was also gradually phased in during 2015.

Although health insurance was already compulsory for companies with more than 1,000 workers, phase two in July required companies with between 100 and 999 employees to insure the health of all employees. Companies with fewer than 100 workers have until the end of June next year to comply with the new regulations, or risk fines of up to Dh500,000.

The year also saw a commitment from the Dubai government to make the city more accessible to disabled people, laying out a five year plan that will see accessibility and attitudes within the workplace improve before Expo 2020 under the My Community initiative.
Source: The National