There is also a new fee for issuing sick leave requests or medical reports, which has risen to 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.” “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 said that getting an X-Ray done at a private hospital was now 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, which will therefore be treated at discounted rates. Non-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 to fees listed on the website of Al Qasimi 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.

No relief for employees

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. The employee requested the government review the charges to make healthcare affordable for all, in addition to providing insurance cover to all ministry employees “With this fee hike, we too are being affected badly and have to pay up from our pockets,” said the employee. No comment was available from the ministry. Khaleej Times