Women spent more than men on healthcare: Study

Women spent more than men on healthcare needs in 2012, according to data from Dubai’s first health accounts that was revealed on Thursday. Details of the first National Health Accounts for Dubai, considering the proportion of the female population (25 per cent) versus men (75 per cent), showed that women were spending more on various health services.

Of the Dh10 billion that was spent on health care, a meagre six per cent was spent on seeking preventive treatment compared to 74 per cent that went towards curative care. Data also showed that spending in hospitals was 48 per cent, and considered to be on the higher side.

Essa Al Maidoor, Director-General of the DHA, announced the release of the report, saying it will ensure ‘transparency’ while future policies will be based on the results of the report.

“At a time when the financing of Dubai’s health system is undergoing major developments — based on the recent Health Insurance Law — DHA has issued its first Health Accounts of the Emirate for the year 2012 titled ‘A baseline for a new era’,” he said at at Arab Health 2014.

Highlighting the main findings of the report, Al Maidoor said the total health spending for 2012 was Dh10 billion of which Dh8.5 billion was spent on services provided in Dubai.

Dr Haidar Al Yousuf, Director of Health Funding Department, mentioned that DHA will publish Health Accounts System of Dubai (HASD) results periodically, to support the development of healthcare. “More than 300 representatives from 100 organisations provided us with data,” he said.

asmaalizain@khaleejtimes.com