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Aetna Appointed Dubai HMC

DUBAI - The Dubai Health Authority has appointed Aetna as one of the health care management companies (HMCs) to provide health management programmes and services to outpatient care practices (OCPs), also known as primary health care practices, in Dubai, according to company’s announcement.

By Aneela Batool

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Published: Fri 12 Dec 2008, 2:00 AM

Last updated: Sun 5 Apr 2015, 11:21 AM

“We are extremely pleased to have been appointed to this position by the Dubai Health Authority,” said Ronald A. Williams, Aetna Chairman and CEO. “We have a range of skills that can support the government’s goal of strengthening health care delivery in Dubai.”

These outpatient clinics, responsible for managing and directing the care of the local population, are a central part of a new government-sponsored, capitation-based health care system aimed at promoting access to high-quality, affordable, basic health care to Dubai residents. Implementation of the new system will begin in January 2009.

The Government of Dubai currently offers select health programmes to its 1.5 million residents, more than a million of which are expatriates working a wide range of jobs. Under the new system, residents must register with an OCP to access and receive basic health services. It is estimated that roughly 300 to 500 clinics will join the system in 2009.

Aetna is one of only two HMCs appointed to assist OCPs in leveraging the opportunities the new system provides. Aetna, in partnership with Gateway Healthcare, will provide administrative, financial and other value-added services, including the management and flow of funds to OCPs, negotiation of arrangements with hospitals and specialist clinics and development of care and disease management programmes for use in the clinical setting. This will allow OCPs to continue their primary focus on patient care.

aneela@khaleejtimes.com