Focus is on preventive medicine, say Dubai health officials

Dubai - Dh12.77 billion was spent on healthcare in the country in 2014 of which Dh10.95 billion was spent in Dubai and Dh1.83 billion outside Dubai.

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Asma Ali Zain

Published: Thu 28 Jan 2016, 9:08 PM

Last updated: Thu 28 Jan 2016, 11:11 PM

With nearly 50 per cent of the country's health funds being spent in hospitals in 2014, officials said on Thursday that the focus was now on preventive medicine instead of curative.
Dh12.77 billion was spent on healthcare in the country in 2014 of which Dh10.95 billion was spent in Dubai and Dh1.83 billion outside Dubai, officials from Dubai Health Authority (DHA) said on Thursday while announcing the second findings of the annual Health Accounts Report for Dubai.
Dr Haidar Al Yousuf, Director of Health Funding Department said the most spending was in hospitals (47 per cent) - a percentage higher by international comparison, followed by 22 per cent in clinics, 9 per cent in pharmacies while 14 per cent was spent outside Dubai.
Currently, 25 per cent of the spending on healthcare is being done by the public on curative care while preventive care receives only five per cent of the share. Thirty per cent spending is done by the government, 45 per cent by employers and 25 per cent by households (families and individuals).
"Once insurance is in place fully this year, we hope this out-of-pocket spending will reduce," he said.
"The report has multifold benefits, it helps measure the financial dimensions of the public and private health sector, and it helps understand allocation of health funds so that healthcare entities, the government sector and health investors can take evidence-based decisions."
Private sector spending in healthcare in 2014 was Dh8.5 billion which is an increase of 37 per cent from 2012. Share of funds between private and the government was 70:30.
"Population is getting larger and people are getting older and spending is increasing ... we want people to be healthier but we need to shift the focus to preventive rather than the current curative," he added.
asmaalizain@khaleejtimes.com

Asma Ali Zain

Published: Thu 28 Jan 2016, 9:08 PM

Last updated: Thu 28 Jan 2016, 11:11 PM

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