United Arab Emirates

January 15, 2007

The government plans to introduce a unified price list for healthcare services provided at public health institutions in the country, a top health official has revealed. 

“The Ministry of Health (MoH) has embarked on evaluating the cost of all curative medical services in a bid to chalk out unified prices for these services,” said Dr Ali bin Shukar, Under-Secretary at the MoH.

Speaking to Khaleej Times yesterday, the official said his ministry has hired a renowned consultancy to conduct a comprehensive study on the existing prices of different medical services, including diagnosis and surgeries.

Fees levied for medical services in the public sector are relatively higher when compared to the income of a large section of expatriates. 

Nationals receive free curative medical services at public health institutions.
Elaborating on the role of the foreign firm, the official said it would carry out a survey on the prices levied on health services provided at the MoH hospitals and primary healthcare centres before preparing a questionnaire on the cost effectiveness. 

“The general cost of curative medical services in the regional health market as well as the international prices will be taken into account too,” clarified Dr Shukar.

On whether the move might result in hiking fees of some medical services, the official said it was too early to predict. “The prices will depend largely on the outcome of the survey. Some prices could go up and but other services might cost less,” he said.

With regard to the private sector, Dr Shukar said the focus was on the public sector right now. But a future plan might involve the private sector as well, he noted.