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MoH hospitals increase medical services fees

From consultation fee hike to separate charges for medicines, patients visiting the ministry hospitals and centres have to pay at least five times more than before, according to a new rate list issued as a circular by the ministry in September.
As per the circular, expatriates now have to pay Dh150 to open a new health file as compared to Dh20 that was being charged earlier from a patient carrying a health card. Also earlier, without a health card, charges for opening the file were fixed at Dh75.

However, health services at the ministry hospitals remain free for the UAE nationals though adults are being charged Dh150 for a health card. Locals aged between 1-10 years old are also required to hold a health card that costs Dh55. Those between 10-18 years have to pay Dh80.

For expatriates of all age groups, a Cabinet decision issued in August by His Highness Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai fixed Dh500 from Dh300 for issuance of a health card. Dh300 was fixed as charges for replacement of a lost card.

The decree also said that expatriates will have to pay double the fee for a medical service in government hospitals and centres if a valid ministry-approved health card is not presented.

Charges for consultation with a general practitioner (GP) at a hospital now stand at Dh150 (with a health card) from the earlier Dh50 and Dh300 is charged if a patient does not hold a health card.

Fee has also been doubled from Dh50 to Dh100 if the consultation is being done at a peripheral clinic. X-ray charges now stand at Dh100 with a health card and Dh200 without health card.

Also, the new fee for issuing sick leaves or medical reports is Dh53.

“Earlier, we were given medicines and other treatment within the Dh20,” said a patient from Ras Al Khaimah on the condition of anonymity. “Now we have to pay Dh25 separately for tablets and Dh30 for injections alone,” said the patient.

“The charges are too much now,” said the patient adding,“especially since we hardly have any other choice in health providers in these far flung areas.”

“There are hardly any private hospitals in these areas, so we are very much dependent on government hospitals…but with these charges, getting treatment will be very expensive.”

The patient also said that getting an X-ray done at a private hospital was cheaper than at a government hospital. “Private hospitals charge Dh60 and also accept insurance cards,” said the patient.

With the new rate list, only traffic accidents are considered as emergencies and will be treated at discounted rates.

None urgent cases seen in the Accident and Emergency are required to pay Dh203 for health card holding patients and Dh403 for non-health cardholders, according fees listed on the website of Al Qasimi Hospital which is a ministry run hospital in Sharjah.

“There are many blue-collar workers based here and there are many industrial accidents that take place but there is no relief for such cases in the hospitals now,” added the patient.

Medical services in each Emirate are managed by different health authorities such as the Dubai Health Authority (DHA) and Health Authority of Abu Dhabi (HAAD).

A parallel health system is run by the health ministry in Dubai and the Northern Emirates.

Box 1 Expatriates working at the health ministry are not entitled to health insurance and also have to pay for any medical services that they avail of at the ministry hospitals, claimed a ministry employee on the condition of anonymity. “We are neither given any medical benefits nor any insurance cover even when we visit a ministry run hospital,” said the employee. “With this fee hike, we too are being affected badly and have to pay up from our pockets,” said the employee. “If I fall sick, I have to pay from own pocket,” added the employee. “I request the government to review the charges and make it affordable for all as well as provide mandatory insurance cover to all ministry employees.” No comment was available from the ministry.

New rate list of services at ministry hospitals General Doctor visit Dh150 (with HC) Dh300 (without HC) Specialist Doctor Dh250 (with HC) Dh500 (without HC) Consultant Dh400 (with HC) Dh800 (without HC) Home Visit Nurse Dh100 (with HC) Dh150 (without HC) Home Visit Doctor Dh450 (with HC) Dh900 (without HC)

Patient categories exempted from all fees include: · Students referred from the school health division during the study period · Prison inmates · New born less than a month old · Patients with disabilities · GGC nationals · Patients affected with an infectious disease like HIV/AIDS, Hepatitis, Tuberculosis…etc. · Thalassemia patients · Renal Dialysis patients are exempted from dialysis and medical test fees · Cancer patients are exempted from medical testing fees · Patients with chronic conditions (cardiology, diabetes and hypertension) are exempted from sick leave issuing fees