Tuesday, Jan 21, 2014
Dubai: Consumers are likely to spend more on health care in the UAE than in any other country in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region, data compiled by a team of specialist consultants and economists showed.
According to the latest research released this month by Cost of Living Reports Middle East, health care costs in the UAE are the most expensive in the region.
The report took into account the prices of medical and health care services, including consultations, hospital stays and specialist check-ups in Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and UAE.
UAE emerged as the costliest country for consulting a general practitioner (GP) at an international certified hospital. As of the fourth quarter last year, fees ranged between $88 and 151 (Dh323-Dh554), more than double the prevailing costs in Bahrain ($40) and Kuwait ($40). The second-most expensive GCC nation for GP visits is Saudi Arabia, with rates averaging at $81.
The UAE also topped the table for the costs of routine, specialist and executive health check-ups and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans.
The report, however, pointed out that the UAE has the biggest range in terms of international hospitals and clinics in the Gulf. In comparison, Saudi Arabia has over seven big local manufacturing plants for drugs, bringing the cost of medicines down.
Health care costs are a regular challenge for many consumers. Each person in the UAE is estimated to spend $1,200 every year on medical care. Although a number of employers provide basic medical insurance, residents still spend money out of their pocket to help cover the bill. Many expatriates, especially blue-collar workers, also don’t have health coverage.
“While in many cases health insurance is provided to employees by companies, there is still a substantial number of companies that do not provide health insurance to their staff,” said Ashok Sardana, managing director at Continental Group.
Sardana, however, noted that the impact of rising costs will be minimised with the implementation of a compulsory health insurance scheme in the country.
Steve Clements, partner, employee health and benefits leader for Middle East at Mercer, said one of the reasons behind the costly medical care in the UAE is that the country’s population has high demands and good knowledge of treatment options.
“[They have] extensive experience of health care interventions from around the world, making them a demanding, knowledgeable and sophisticated consumers of health care. They are well informed of what good health care looks like and expect to be able to quickly access the best available care, but this leads to high utilisation of services,” Clements told Gulf News yesterday.
Besides, the health care provisions in the country are “relatively well developed” and accessible, with hospitals and clinics increasingly well equipped to provide the latest medical interventions.
By Cleofe Maceda Senior Reporter
Gulf News 2014. All rights reserved.
