The Dubai Health Authority(DHA) announces price regulation model for health services in private sector from 2015.
Dubai - The Dubai Health Authority (DHA) announced today the price regulation model for health services in the private sector that will be applicable from 2015.
His Excellency Engineer Essa Al Maidoor, Director-General of the Dubai Health Authority said: "This model essentially aims to regulate price increases of health services in the private sector. The price increase will be regulated in a calculated and transparent way so that it facilitates a sustainable health system. The regulation will be applicable for all polyclinics, clinics and hospitals in Dubai and services provided to Dubai insurance policies. The aim of the price regulation model is to ensure balance between allowing price increases and protecting patient's interest."
Al Maidoor added that the model allows a percentage increase on existing prices of services, subject to approval of the DHA. A separate proposal is required for every service the health entity proposes to increase ( e.g. Cauterization procedure, MRI, CT scan etc.) He said a prerequisite for healthcare providers interested to apply for a price increase includes compliance with DHA regulations, no pending violations, compliance with smart regulatory tools like e-Claims and e-Prescriptions.
Al Maidoor added that the maximum increase that is allowed for 2015 is 4.22 per cent which is the published rate of inflation by the Dubai Statistics Centre. "The deadline for application is end of November 2014 and the price increase will be applicable for 2015. This means that the price increase is applicable for 12 months and healthcare entities will not be able to increase prices for a year. This ensures sustainability, is fair towards providers and at the same time protects patient rights," added Al Maidoor.
Dr Haider Al Yousuf, Director of Health Funding at the DHA, said: " Price regulation of healthcare services is a best system applied by various countries. It is an important tool to ensure that quality is rewarded. This essentially means that price regulation incentivises quality outcomes."
He added that the DHA has asked all private provides to comply with the e-Claims system as it is transparent system to track compliance of all financial transactions of the health sector. "Through the e-Claim link we can track the proper implementation of existing and approved price increases. In 2014, e-Claim portal received 900,000 claims per month and by the end of the year, the transactions will be worth approximately 6 billion dirhams."
He said the e-Claim link was used by 2300 service providers who submitted their electronic claims to 44 insurance companies
Twenty-three million services and 8 million claims were recorded from the beginning of this year and the portal was used by 13500 physicians who dispensed more than 10 million medications.
He said since the implementation of the e-Claims portal in 2013, the utilization has increased and transactions have almost doubled.
About the publisher
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 Engineer Essa Al Maidoor is the Director-General of the DHA.
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.
