The healthcare system in the UAE
The Ministry of Health and Prevention (MOHAP) is responsible for overseeing healthcare in the country; however, healthcare is usually dealt with by a health authority in each Emirate. The provision of healthcare has grown quickly. In fact, the latest statistics (gathered between 2012–2017) show that the number of physicians and dentists almost doubled, and pharmacists quadrupled.
Healthcare facilities
As a result of the growing healthcare provision, there are new state-of-the-art centers and facilities. In addition, quality healthcare workers have arrived in the UAE from all around the world to provide top-notch care. The high quality of healthcare is probably why medical tourism is thriving in the country. Take Dubai for example – it’s expected that by 2020, 500,000 people will travel to Dubai for healthcare.
Expats tend to prefer private healthcare over public. Here, medical professionals tend to all speak English. In fact, many of them are expats themselves after completing their training in their home nations.
Who can access healthcare in the UAE?
Anyone can access healthcare in the UAE, but if you’re not a citizen, private healthcare is costly. Expats may apply for the national public health card through MOHAP, affording them the same 50% discount on healthcare services as UAE nationals. However, this costs AED 500 and only allows treatment at a small number of facilities.
Cost of healthcare in the UAE
Healthcare is regulated by both the federal and emirate level governments. In 2018, healthcare expenditure was AED 50.3 billion (3.4% of GDP) and it’s expected to rise to AED 53 billion. This is funded through taxes collected (although there’s no income tax in the country).
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