The UAE’s medical sector is one of the most advanced in the world. Not only do we have some of the best infrastructure available, but the UAE has attracted many of the world’s best health professionals. This is partly because of the Government’s long-term commitment to health care and the continuing development of a vibrant medical tourism industry. There are, however, several challenges.
Chief among them, as The National reported yesterday, is money wasted on unnecessary tests and procedures, prescriptions for expensive medicine and patient fraud. The burden of this waste falls primarily on healthcare providers and insurers – and the costs can be staggering. Experts estimate that as much as Dh3.67 billion is lost to waste in the health care sector each year. How can this problem be fixed?
First of all, waste and abuse is not unique to the UAE. In most countries, medical fraud and the over-prescription of drugs is part and parcel of the industry. In some cases, doctors receive incentives from drug companies for prescriptions or procedures. In the United States, for example, this practice is a contributing factor to the high cost of drugs.
In the UAE, we are blessed with state-of-the-art infrastructure that serves a relatively small population. Therefore, while access to treatments and tests is usually not subject to waiting lists, there can sometimes be the impression that too many tests are being ordered.
To reform the system, we need a fresh debate between doctors, hospitals, drug companies and insurance providers. We must strike a balance between empowering doctors to provide the best care while curbing excess. It is a fine balance but we can learn from the experience of other countries that struggle with similar problems.
Given the relatively small size of our healthcare sector, we have a degree of flexibility in implenting changes to find a natural balance between professions and insurance companies. The first step is to identify the problems and begin the conversation. Once a compromise has been reached to guarantee that citizens and residents will get the best possible care, safeguards can be put in place to control the waste and eliminate any fraud.