UAE should provide free health screenings for all residents: report

The report published by the Economist Intelligence Unit and analysing regional trends says doctors should have incentives for patient outcomes rather than the number of tests ordered.

ABU DHABI // Free health screenings should be offered to all UAE residents to improve early diagnosis of disease and better outcomes, economists said in a report on the region’s changing health-=care demands.

The report, published by The Economist Intelligence Unit, which analysed regional trends, claims improved preventive health care and a clampdown on incentive payments for doctors on tests administered should also be considered.

Health Authority Abu Dhabi’s Weqaya prevention programme to screen people for diabetes, cancer, heart and respiratory diseases has been hailed a success, but it is available only to adults aged between 18 and 75 years who hold a Daman insurance Thiqa card.

Lower-paid workers with mandatory, basic-level insurance paid for by employers must pay the first 20 per cent of screening costs, so are less likely to have one done.

“The principle of preventive measures is definitely the way to go in the UAE, and there needs to be more of that,” said Stephen Maclaren, a senior executive at insurer Al Futtaim Willis.

“Barrier entry such as the 20 per cent coinsurance is a big disincentive for those with a ­basic plan to go and get tested or checked out,” said Mr Maclaren. “For those people in the green zone, who are fit and healthy or borderline diabetic, we have to find a way, as a country, to show that behavioural change is required, rather than just taking medication to treat a problem.”

Under basic insurance schemes, regular screenings are not included and many insurers often refuse to pay for additional testing.

The EIU report claimed that unless coverage was broadened to include screenings and necessary tests to enable accurate diagnoses, the insurance roll-out across the GCC would not help early diagnosis and prevention.

Experts encourage a one-off comprehensive screening to identify high-risk factors and to aid developing more targeted and efficient screening programmes.

NMC Healthcare is one provider incorporating a detailed preventive health-care programme across all its UAE hospitals.

“Preventive health care is the most widely practised concept worldwide to reduce the costs of health care delivery on to either insurances or the exchequer agencies,” said chief executive Prasanth Manghat. “It not only saves costs, but also the outcomes improve tremendously as early detection is the key to success in any of the disease areas.

“Preventive programmes lower employee absenteeism and hence increase overall efficiency. With lower costs on health care and more productivity, the nation grows.

“It’s time that the insurance, regulatory and the health-care providers work collaboratively on it.”

Dubai Health Authority’s essential health benefits package offers GP access, referrals to specialists, surgical procedures, laboratory services, emergency services and maternity care.

Beneficiaries must pay the first 20 per cent of treatment costs with a maximum coverage up to Dh150,000 under basic DHA plans.

Although most basic health-care plans cover scans and diagnostics, certain procedures such as IVF treatments and disability support such as physiotherapy are usually not.

Insurance will not cover the costs of lifestyle diseases such as hypertension and diabetes for the first six months, after which all pre-existing conditions are covered.

A competitive health-care market helps drive up standards, according to David Hadley, chief executive of Mediclinic Middle East hospital group.

“Each provider elevates the next, and each medical insurance company keeps the providers in check because they’re competing,” he said. “It’s a very good market.”

Government oversight is essential to ensure the private sector is operating as it should, and that doctors should be incentivised on patient outcomes instead of tests administered, economists said in the EIU report.

“A holistic strategy will entail educating the public about the need for regular screenings while improving access to these programmes, to create a system in which early diagnosis is possible,” said the report’s editor, Melanie Noronha.