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29 March 2024

DHA fines 25 facilities that violated Dubai's mandatory health insurance law

Published
By Wam

Dubai Health Authority, DHA, has revealed that it has fined 25 health centres, clinics, insurance brokers and insurance companies for violating the Dubai mandatory health insurance law, while it has referred 6 clinics for prosecution for potential fraudulent activities.

The DHA revealed that the violations were discovered during surprise and routine inspections conducted by the authority’s Health Funding Department as well as from member complaints.

Dr. Haidar Al Yousef, the Director of the Health Funding Department at DHA, said that the fines imposed ranged from Dh10,000 to Dh80,000.

"Some healthcare providers and insurers didn’t comply completely with the health insurance law and the circulars issued by the health funding department. We observed this through inspection visits, compliance meetings as well complaints received from different parties involved in the system. Therefore we have resorted to fining them to avoid such acts in the future," he said.

Dr. Al Yousef said that violating facilities received an initial warning which was followed by a fine. Some were even referred for prosecution and may face criminal punishment due to potential fraudulent activities.

The fines were based on the type of violation and the number of times the violation was repeated, in line with Law No. 07 of 2016 issued by Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammad bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of the Dubai Executive Council. The law aims to protect the rights of individuals by ensuring that they are covered by health insurance.

Employers and sponsors who fail to provide mandatory health insurance cover are now liable to a fine of Dh500 per month. Apart from the fine, no new visas will be granted and no existing visas renewed without health insurance, according to the DHA.