| Healthcare Regulatory Update: The United Arab | | | | improve the accessibility and quality of healthcare |
| Emirates | | | | services available to residents while reducing the |
| Introduction | | | | burden of public financing of healthcare. Since |
| The fragmented nature of the healthcare | | | | 2009, a number of reforms have been proposed |
| systems in the United Arab Emirates remains | | | | and implemented, while others have been |
| despite the implementation of health reforms in | | | | postponed in light of the recent global economic |
| the emirates of Abu Dhabi and Dubai. The two | | | | downturn. |
| major emirates are currently at different stages | | | | In Abu Dhabi, since the passing of the Health |
| in the development and implementation of reform | | | | Insurance Bill in 2005, most residents are now |
| with the gap between them in terms of access | | | | covered by health insurance, with this being |
| to healthcare and pharmaceuticals widening, with | | | | justified by increasing encounters between |
| Abu Dhabi leading the way. | | | | physicians and patients. The HAAD has also |
| Scope | | | | implemented a number of cost saving strategies, |
| Insight into the inequality of healthcare access and | | | | a screening program for nationals, and an eHealth |
| associated costs which has led to reform in the | | | | platform. |
| UAE | | | | In Dubai, the timelines for the proposed health |
| Overview of the latest regulatory reforms in the | | | | insurance reforms have been postponed. For |
| UAE and their impact on key stakeholders | | | | expatriates, especially those on very low wages |
| Update of strategies to improve healthcare | | | | (such as labourers), the postponement will mean |
| standards and access in Abu Dhabi | | | | that access to healthcare will remain patchy, since |
| Update of strategies to improve healthcare | | | | they will have to pay out-of-pocket for |
| standards and access in Dubai | | | | treatment, or depend on the goodwill of their |
| Highlights | | | | employers. |
| Healthcare reforms in the UAE have aimed to | | | | |