Child birth costs go up in UAE

Child birth charges will soon go up 100 per cent at all Ministry of Health affiliated hospitals for those who do not have a health card
Abu Dhabi: Child birth charges will soon go up 100 per cent at all Ministry of Health affiliated hospitals if you do not have a health card, according to a circular issued by the Ministry.

The cost of a normal delivery has gone up to Dh 5,000 from Dh 2,500. A caesarean's cost has doubled to Dh 8000 from Dh 4,000.

An official in the Ministry, who did not wish to named, said it was due to a rise in operational costs and price of medical equipment and items.

He also stressed that the new prices are still lower compared to those of private hospitals or the Dubai Health Authority (DHA) affiliated hospitals

Earlier, this year hospitals affiliated with the DHA increased the price of child delivery by 250 per cent. Natural birth costs rose to Dh 7000 from Dh 2,000, while caesareans increased from Dh 3,000 to Dh 9,000.

The cost of child delivery charges in private hospitals on an average costs Dh 8,500 in an one bedroom suite. A caesarean costs Dh 17,000 in a one-bedroom suite for a four-day stay.

Source : Gulf News

Dated Dec 24,2010