The Emirate of Abu Dhabi has implemented a reform in the health insurance system to provide a right to choice and better access to health providers. The increasing cost of health care and the influence of the world economic crisis has led to the countries’ inability to pay the expenses on their own. Therefore, many countries have decided to modernize their health care system to share the responsibility of supplying with the private sector (Hamidi, Shaban, Mahate, & Younis, 2014). While the Abu Dhabi plan incorporates the involvement of the private sector, the prices and benefits are determined by the government. The latter is under a threat of financial difficulties. It is urgent to make the medical treatment branch more competitive to avoid monopoly.
The reform in the Abu Dhabi health care system aims at reconstructing, coordinating, and providing sufficient financing which would enable high-quality, attainable, and cost-effect health care. The core elements of the reform are compulsory health insurance, increased competition, and a consolidated regulatory system (Koornneef, Robben, Al Seiari, & Al Siksek, 2012). However, despite the citizens’ involvement in the insurance program, there is no fair allocation of the insurance coverage costs. The positive change of the reform is a competition among health care providers. The high level of the contest has led to Aster DM Health Care’s ambition to open several new hospitals in Abu Dhabi. The company plans to open Medicare hospital, Medicare women and children’s hospital, and several other institutions by the end of 2018 (Saho, 2016). Therefore, the reform brings benefits for the people in the form of new facilities built for them.
The three basic sources of funding in Abu Dhabi are the government, the sponsors and employers, and the individuals (Hamidi & Akinci, 2015). The government is responsible for the single-payer insurance plan. Employers are in charge of ensuring their workers. Sponsors ensure those who do not work. The share of the individuals is paid via out-of-pocket payments (Hamidi & Akinci, 2015). There are three health insurance options: basic, enhanced, and Thiqa. Each of them has its peculiarities, and people may choose the program which they can afford and consider the best for them.
Abu Dhabi’s health care system is guided by several legal regulations. One of the basic principles is the Code of Conduct of the Ministry of Health. Confidentiality and allowing patients to take part in the decision-making process are the core postulates in the Code of Conduct (Tithecott, 2014). According to the Code of Conduct, any inappropriate conduct on the part of a medical worker is considered a violation and demands investigation. The Health Authority-Abu Dhabi has a legal obligation to put into action, administer, and accomplish the health regulations (Tithecott, 2014). When there is a suspicion that a health provider has violated the norms, the Health Authority-Abu Dhabi is empowered to examine the case. In the process of inspection, all health care facility employees have to assist the Health Authority-Abu Dhabi.
If the Ministry of Health and the Health Authority-Abu Dhabi extended the ability of all insurance providers to contract with government hospitals, the latter would benefit greatly. The financial support obtained with the help of insurance would enable the government hospitals to become more efficient and competitive. With the improved budget, government hospitals would be able to prove better care for their patients. Given equal opportunities with private hospitals, government facilities would not need to concentrate mostly on the owners of the basic insurance program.
References
Hamidi, S., & Akinci, F. (2015). Examining the health care payment reforms in Abu Dhabi. International Journal of Health Planning and Management, 30(2), E69-E82.
Hamidi, S., Shaban, S., Mahate, A. A., & Younis, M. Z. (2014). Health Insurance reform and the development of health insurance plans: The case of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, UAE. Journal of Health Care Finance, 40(3), 47-66.
Koornneef, E. J., Robben, P. B. M., Al Seiari, M. B., & Al Siksek, Z. (2012). Health system reform in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. Health Policy, 108(2-3), 115-121.
Saho, S. (2016). Aster DM expands hospital network in Abu Dhabi. The National. Web.
Tithecott, A. (2014). Competition to attract patients between healthcare providers in Abu Dhabi. Tamimi. Web.