UAE Healthcare 101
Structure of the Healthcare
Primary, secondary and tertiary healthcare services are all available in the UAE. Primary health care includes basic medical care, dental care, maternal and child health, antenatal care, vaccination, and nutrition education. Secondary and tertiary healthcare include specialized medical services. These services are provided to individuals with comprehensive cases at large hospitals in the UAE.
The healthcare system in the UAE is regulated by the following authorities:
The Ministry of Health and Prevention (MOHAP) at the federal level (Arab, Muhtaseb, & Venugopal) (regulates and supervises insurance sector according to Federal Law No.6 of 2007, as amended by the Federal Law No.3 of 2018)
The UAE Nursing and Midwifery Council
At Emirates level, MOHAP regulates healthcare provision, however some emirates have their own regulatory authorities:
Department of Health - Abu Dhabi (DOH), formerly known as Health Authority Abu Dhabi (HAAD)
Dubai Health Authority (DHA), main health authority in Dubai created by Law No.13 of 2007
Dubai Healthcare City Authority - Regulatory (DHCAR), established by Law No.9 of 2011 to regulate Dubai's healthcare free zone, Dubai Healthcare City
Sharjah Healthcare City
Healthcare Service Providers and Developers
Despite the public sector playing a major role in provision of services, the private sector also helps in healthcare provision as well. Organizations in the Public Sector are:
Abu Dhabi Health Services Company (SEHA)
Dubai Health Authority (DHA)
Ministry of Health and Prevention (MOHAP)
Ministry of Presidential Affairs
Government Linked Entities:
Mubadala Healthcare
Ruling Family Patronage
The private sector helps provide health care services with companies including NMC Healthcare, Emirates Healthcare Company, Mediclinic Middle East, Aster DM Healthcare, VPS Healthcare, The Thumbay Group, Belhoul Lifecare, Amanat, Gulf Healthcare International, UEMedical, Avivo Group, Ahalia Medical Group, AlSharq Healthcare, Arabian Healthcare Group, Middle East Healthcare Company (Saudi German Hospitals), Zulekha Healthcare Group, Capital Health, City Centre Clinic, and King’s College Hospital.
Medical Hubs including Dubai Healthcare City and Sharjah Healthcare City also play a prominent role in healthcare provision.
Financing Healthcare
In the past few years, UAE has moved to implement mandatory coverage for its citizens and residents, with Emirates like Abu Dhabi, Dubai, and Sharjah showing initiative.
ABU DHABI
The healthcare sector has shown promising growth in recent years, due to both the public and private sector laying heavy investment to ensure healthcare for all. There have also been strides to streamline modern state-of-the-art medical facilities and infrastructure. In this emirate, health insurance is mandatory and offered in three options; Thiqa (trust), Basic, and Enhanced. Thiqa is a health insurance plan for UAE nationals in the emirate, managed by Daman, the National Health Insurer, on behalf of the Government of Abu Dhabi. Under Thiqa, individuals claim 100% of health care costs for treatment received in the emirate, and 90% of the treatment cost if they were treated abroad.
The Basic policy offers healthcare coverage to expatriates with limited income. The Enhanced policy covers expatriates with income above the declared threshold. Expatriates covered under these policies are those that hold residence permits. Employers of these expatriates are responsible for providing health insurance for expats and their dependents (a spouse and up to three children). Daman can issue Thiqa, Basic and Enhanced health policies, but private insurers can only issue the Enhanced policy.
DUBAI
There is a mandatory health insurance program for all residents in the emirate of Dubai.
Enaya, a Government of Dubai Employee Healthcare Benefit Plan, provides health coverage for government employees and their families. This plan is designed for employees of thirty nine government-owned departments and their declared beneficiaries. Those covered by Enaya can get healthcare access in DHA facilities and through private healthcare providers. Enaya covers primary healthcare and other specialized medical treatments.
Saada, a health insurance program for Emiratis not covered by any government health program, allows access to DHA healthcare centers and private providers. To simplify the process, UAE has assigned the administrative process to Neuron, a tech firm, to ensure that nationals can self-register for the plan at Saada kiosks using their Emirates ID. Nationals can also submit their claims for reimbursement on the mobile app.
Isahd, an insurance plan for all nationals, residents, and visitors of the emirate, benefits expatriates working in the private sector. These are expatriates whose employers help facilitate health insurance for them through licensed health insurance corporations operating in the Emirate. Licensed insurance companies operating in the UAE include AXA Insurance, Ras Al Khaimah National Insurance Company, National Health Insurance Company (DAMAN), Oman Insurance Company, Orient Insurance PJSC, METLIFE ALICO, Takaful Emarat - Insurance, Dar Al Takaful (PJSC), National General Insurance Company, Abu Dhabi National Insurance Company (ADNC), Union Insurance, and Noor Takaful.
Investment Opportunities
Lucrative opportunities to invest in UAE’s healthcare space include but are not limited to:
Medical Tourism
Healthcare technologies such as blockchain, artificial intelligence and analytics
Long Term Rehabilitation Centers
Start Ups & Technology
The UAE is home to over fifty health-tech startups that make up an efficient ecosystem that works towards providing innovative solutions to healthcare needs. These startups include:
Dhonor
Zest
AlemHealth
Actiste
Altibbi
Emerging technologies leveraged in these companies include:
Telehealth
Blockchain
Artificial Intelligence
Digital Health, mHealth & c-Health
Challenges
Here are issues that the UAE faces in its journey to achieve an advanced healthcare system:
Lifestyle related diseases such as diabetes, heart disease and obesity
The growing demand of medical services attributed by the growing population
High dependence on imported pharmaceuticals
Travel restrictions due to COVID-19 have put a strain on the kingdom’s medical tourism
Difficulty in recruiting specialists and tertiary medical personnel
Solutions
UAE Vision 2021 is one of the reforms adopted by the Emirate to ensure that healthcare services are of international standards with a strong infrastructure to foster preventive medicine and the ability to deal with pandemics.
Different campaigns and strategies push and motivate the population to maintain a healthy lifestyle to avoid NCDs. These include the National Nutrition Strategy (2017-2021), and the National Strategy for Wellbeing 2031, which advocate for healthy lifestyle, good mental health, and balanced nutrition.
Wide screening such as Weqaya, which offers screening for cardiovascular health risks and helps detect heart diseases early on to make sure individuals take necessary precautions. Abu Dhabi Central Cancer Registry conducts cancer screening in order to detect cancer cells early and to ensure that treatment starts early.
PPPs have enabled the Emirate to build modern medical facilities that offer state-of-the-art medical services, such as the Joint Venture between SEHA and Mayo Clinic, building Sheikh Shakbout Medical City, and US-based Cleveland Clinic. Mubadala Investment Company also opened a 364 bed flagship multi-specialty Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi. With such partnerships, the UAE are in a position to create world class medical treatments and therapies.
The establishment of local plants, including Dubai Science Park, work to manufacture pharmaceuticals in response to the demand for medication to treat lifestyle diseases.
The 2019 opening of CosmeSurge, a cosmetic and aesthetic surgery hospital which offers treatments in dermatology, pathology, intensive care, aesthetic, body sculpting and even radiology, marked the effort of the kingdom to promote medical tourism.
The UAE is also leveraging emerging technologies including AI to offer advanced healthcare solutions. AI Lab and Artemis leverage DNA based data to enable advanced medical diagnosis and treatment.