253 Clinics Registered for Out-Patient Care

DUBAI - As many as 253 of the 600 clinics in the emirate are registered as Out-Patient Care Practices (OCPs) to provide basic healthcare services under Dubai Health Authority’s compulsory insurance scheme.

By Staff Reporter

Published: Mon 16 Feb 2009, 1:53 AM

Last updated: Sun 5 Apr 2015, 7:52 PM

Almost 1.5 million residents of Dubai are expected to sign up with OCPs of their choice to obtain basic healthcare services once the DHA commences the registration process.

While patients fear that signing up with a clinic of their choice may be a tough job, DHA officials say that only a few eligible clinics have opted out.

Laila Al Jassmi, Director of DHA Health Funding, says, “Most excluded clinics (out of the 600) were not registered as OCPs because they did not meet the eligibility criteria based on the OCP guidelines set by the DHA. Clinics such as cosmetic, specialist only and school clinics did not fit the OCP clinic definition of primary care services.”

She adds that OCP registration process for patients will start only after the announcement of Health Benefit Contribution (HBC).

A DHA spokesperson had earlier said that the clinics were currently assessing their patient-handling capacity and a price list.

“Clinics will not be allowed to refuse treatment to a registered patient,” he pointed out.

“Hospitals and clinics cannot register patients more than the number they are able to handle, or else risk losing their licence,” said the spokesperson.

Employers or individuals will have to pay Dh500-800 to the HBC pool while patients will make a Dh25 co-payment.

The entire registration process for Dubai has to be completed within a year. The current insurance schemes will continue until all of Dubai’s employees/residents are registered.

Registration Process

The employer (or sponsor) will be required to complete a form, a spreadsheet that lists the people (employees) they are responsible for. The form will require a declaration of the patient’s preferred clinic (top three choices may be submitted).

Depending on capacity at the chosen clinic, individuals will be allocated.

Patients may choose their clinicdirectly from the DHA website which (in the event of a discrepancy) will override the choices made by the employer.

Once the employer pays the HBC, the preferred clinic will be notified and the patient will then be able to seek treatment at the clinic. The DHA pays the fee on a monthly basis to the clinic based on their registered patients.

asmaalizain@khaleejtimes.com