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Concern over MoH move to increase medical fees
ABU DHABI — The proposed fee hike for various medical services in the Emirates, announced by the Ministry of Health recently, has triggered much concern and anxiety in private health institutions in the country.
A majority of those involved in this sector feel that once the new fee hike is implemented, it will increase their financial burden and adversely affect their business.
Khaleej Times has learnt that the ministry has set up a special committee to review the fees being charged for different medical and health services in the private sector.
"A committee has been set up to review fees charged for different health services the ministry provides for the private medical sector. This includes the licensing and renewal of licences for doctors and technical medical staff, and the licensing of the medical or health establishments as well," said Dr Ibrahim Ali Al Qadi, Director of the Private Medical Practice Department at the ministry.
The ministry is mulling increasing fees levied on different health services like issuing medical certificates, laboratory analysis reports, licensing of doctors, renewal of licences for medical and technical personnel, licensing of private pharmaceutical establishments, including pharmacies, medical stores, pharmaceutical manufacturing units and scientific offices.
The move aims to generate additional revenues for the ministry which is already facing a large financial deficit. This financial crunch, point out sources, hampers various public health programmes chalked out by the ministry for enhancing the quality of public health services.
Humaid Al Qatami, Minister of Health, has stated his ministry has prepared a comparative study of medical and health services in the UAE and other GCC countries.
An official medical source at a private hospital, who preferred to remain anonymous said: "Charging extra fees for different health services will impose a financial burden on the overall management costs of hospitals. I believe the annual fees levied on licensing and renewal of licences for doctors are quite adequate and need not be further increased. If I want to obtain a licence for 50 doctors for example it will cost the hospital a considerable amount of money. This will affect our business. However, if it is a government policy we will have to abide by it".
Dr Mustafa Mujahid from Poly Consultants Clinic, Sharjah, opined: "I think the ministry should retain the current fee charges, which in any case were increased recently. Private health clinics spend a lot on various transactions including labour transactions. Considering the spiralling cost of living, doctors and technical medical staff claim a hike in their salaries — which can lead to a situation where the income of a small private medical establishment may be less than its expenses".
Dr B R Shetty, Managing Director and CEO, New Medical Centre Hospital Group, however, gave a different opinion. He said, "Even if the ministry doubled its fees of health related services, it will remain affordable."
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