The Dubai Health Authority (DHA) announced today that Rashid Hospital’s Trauma Centre will now accept direct billing for all health insurance policies.

His Highness Sheikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai, UAE Minister of Finance and President of the DHA, launched the new service and inaugurated the newly expanded Trauma and Emergency Centre at Rashid Hospital.

The introduction of direct billing services at the Trauma Centre, is the first phase and by the end of 2016, all DHA facilities – including its hospitals and primary healthcare centres- will provide direct billing for all health insurance companies.

HE Humid Al Qatami, Chairman of the Board and Director-General of the Dubai Health Authority said that the move will benefit every insured member in the emirate of Dubai. “As this service is rolled out across all DHA health facilities, insured members will no longer need to first pay and then wait for reimbursement if they avail of services at DHA health facilities. The introduction of this facility will provide patients a wider network of providers to choose from, it will provide easier payment options and it will also help foster positive competition between the private and public health providers, which ultimately benefits patients and helps maintain a high standard of healthcare,” said Al Qatami.

Dr Haidar Al Yousuf, Director of Health Funding at the DHA, pointed out that this facility will be particularly useful for patients who use services that are highly specialised and primarily available at public hospitals in Dubai. “Presently most of the trauma and emergency cases visit Rashid Hospital’s Trauma Centre; insured patients who visit the centre can now opt for direct billing instead of reimbursement. Patients only have to pay the co-insurance (deductible patient share) as per their policy and the insurance company will pay the remaining amount directly to the hospital. Similarly, there are certain services that DHA hospitals specialise in and now patients will find it easier to opt for DHA hospitals,” said Dr Al Yousuf.

Dr Al Yousuf said that 75 per cent of expatriates in Dubai who have a Dubai residence visa, are presently covered by the mandatory health insurance policy and by the end of June, the remaining 25 per cent should be covered as part of the final stages of the roll out of the mandatory scheme.