• Basic benefit plan under the mandatory health insurance scheme to cover screening and treatment of three types of the most curable cancers.

  • Dubai becomes first government body in the world to provide this type of cancer screening and treatment under the basic benefit plan.

  • All Dubai visa holders who automatically by law have the mandatory health insurance cover now are eligible for screening as per international best practice screening criteria and thus treatment of these three types of cancer.

  • Types of cancers covered are: breast, colorectal and cervical cancer.

  • This has been possible because of the joint initiatives of the Authority, pharmaceutical companies and insurance providers.

Dubai, United Arab Emirates: The Dubai Health Authority (DHA) announced today the launch of a Basmah initiative, making Dubai the first government entity in the world to provide a complete spectrum of care from screening to treatment for three types of cancer under the basic benefit plan of the Dubai Mandatory Health Insurance Scheme.

Basmah is an initiative of the DHA’s Health Funding department and under this initiative, the basic benefit plan of the Dubai Mandatory Health Insurance Scheme now covers screening as well as treatment of breast, colorectal and cervical cancer. Screening is strictly as per international screening criteria.

His Excellency Humaid Al Qutami, Chairman of the Board and Director-General of the DHA, said: “In line with the vision of His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, the DHA aims to provide the highest quality of health services to everyone living in Dubai. In line with the vision 2021 plan, this initiative will help in early diagnosis as screening is now a part of the basic benefit plan, additionally, we will be able to provide financial and emotional support to patients suffering from these three types of cancer. This is possible because of the support of our partners, both government and private. Our aim is to provide the highest level of quality care for patients and to support them the best we can.”

Dr Haidar Al Yousuf, Director of Health Funding, said: “This is a milestone in terms of health insurance coverage and we have redefined health insurance through this initiative. Prior to this scheme, cancer coverage under the mandatory health insurance scheme as part of the basic benefit plan was limited to AED 150,000. Now, that is no longer the case.  Under the scheme, those detected with breast, colorectal or cervical cancer will receive coverage from screening until treatment.

“Screening is as per criteria which includes several factors such as age of the person etc. If a patient is detected with any of the three cancers during this screening, the DHA Patient Tracking and Follow-Up Centre is automatically notified. They then ensure that the complete treatment process for the patient is smooth and streamlined.”

Al Yousuf explained that this was possible because the healthcare fraternity has come together to ensure the economies of scale support such a noble initiative. He said: “As part of the initiative, people will go through criteria based screening. If a patient is detected to have any of the three cancers, the patient will be treated under the Basmah initiative at Dubai Hospital, which is a centre of excellence in cancer care or at a later stage at another recognized centre of excellence in cancer care in Dubai. The patient will receive the same level of treatment as we have ensured unified pathways for cancer care in Dubai.”

Prior to this, the funding department recently added screening services for diabetes, heart disease, new born and developmental screening as part of the mandatory health insurance cover.

In future, the department hopes to include screening for other diseases such as Hepatitis C.

-Ends-

For further information, please contact:
Mahmoud Al Ali 
Head of Media
Dubai Health Authority 
myalali@dha.gov.ae
+9714 219 7260

Kamakshi Gupta and Noor Nazzal
Communications Analysts- Media Dept.
Dubai Health Authority 
Klgupta@dha.gov.ae  
NNNazzal@dha.gov.ae
+9714 2197455

About the Dubai Health Authority: 
The Dubai Health Authority (DHA) was created, in June 2007, by Law 13 issued by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE, Ruler of Dubai, with an expanded vision to include strategic oversight for the complete health sector in Dubai and enhance private sector engagement. His Highness Sheikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai and UAE Minister of Finance is the President of the Dubai Health Authority and His Excellency Humaid Al Qutami is the Chairman of the Board and Director-General of the Dubai Health Authority.

The DHA’s aim in Dubai is to provide an accessible, effective and integrated healthcare system, protect public health and improve the quality of life within the Emirate. This is a direct translation of the objectives of the Dubai Strategic Plan 2015 launched by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum. Keeping the strategic plan in mind, the DHA’s mission is to ensure access to health services, maintain and improve the quality of these services, improve the health status of nationals, residents and visitors and oversee a dynamic, efficient and innovative health sector.

In addition to overseeing the health sector for the Emirate of Dubai, the DHA also focuses on providing services through DHA healthcare facilities including hospitals (Latifa, Dubai, Rashid and Hatta), specialty centres (e.g. the Dubai Diabetes Center) and DHA primary health centres spread throughout the Emirate of Dubai.

The main pillars of service delivery at DHA health facilities are quality, efficiency, patients and staff.  It is our aim to maintain and improve the quality and efficiency of DHA health services. An important aspect of the service delivery strategy is to focus on patients, their needs and satisfaction as well as attract, retain, nurture and support outstanding staff.

Prior to the establishment of the DHA, the Department of Health and Medical Services (DOHMS), which was established in 1973, was the functioning authority that almost exclusively focused on health service delivery.

© Press Release 2017