• Home
• /
• Opinion

When advisories don't work, penalties do

Policymakers in Dubai understand it well that the benefits of having health coverage for all have larger social and economic benefits too.

It is surprising how a large number of people continue to underestimate the importance of a health insurance policy. The levels of obesity in the UAE are among the highest in the world, and cardiovascular diseases and cancer continue to be the leading causes of death. Medical inflation as per various estimates is touching double digits, and making access to quality health care expensive. In such a society, insurance should have been the first priority of residents but on the contrary its penetration levels remain abysmally low as residents depend on out-of-the-pocket payments for medical care. The working residents have health covers provided by their employers, but on the other hand their dependants, such as maids, servants, et al, and sometimes members of the family, are the ones who remain largely uncovered, and vulnerable to medical exigencies. We need to protect this population, and ensure that they do not remain bereft of good care. 
Abu Dhabi had mandated health insurance five years back, and now it is time Dubai applies in full form. We should understand that limited or no access to medical facilities could mean the difference between life and death, which is why it is hard to argue against the importance of a health insurance policy. The policy document not just shields and protects from rising medical inflation, but also ensures timely medical care. Policymakers in Dubai understand it well that the benefits of having health coverage for all have larger social and economic benefits too. Improving healthcare and access to healthcare has been one of the key focus areas of the government, which will also give impetus to its larger aim of emerging as a top medical tourism hub in the region. Rightly so, the government has taken a tough stance and issued penalties for sponsors who do not abide by the law. Financial advisors argue that unless you can afford to pay millions of dirhams without blinking, you should really have health insurance to protect against financial ruin. We'll say, even if you have, spend it elsewhere and get covered.