Yesterday, the Dubai Health Authority launched the Dubai Cancer Treatment Initiative “Basma”, to include all patients covered by health insurance packages in the emirate, and cover their treatment expenses without a maximum limit. The initiative is expected to provide its treatment services to about 1,500 patients annually. In the first phase, the initiative includes three main types of cancer: breast, cervical, and colon cancer, while the authority intends to expand the initiative by adding other types of cancer.
Chairman and Director General of the Authority, Humaid Mohammed Al Qatami, said that the “Dubai Cancer Treatment Initiative – Basma” is an extension of the most advanced health insurance system, which began with the “Saada” initiative, launched by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, in early June 2015, citing His Highness’s directives when he stressed that education and health are the two main indicators of the safety and well-being of society, and the advancement of its individuals to advanced levels of happiness and stable life.
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Alleviate social and economic burdens The Dubai Health Authority confirmed that the “Basma” initiative is unprecedented globally, as it is linked to cancer, which is not covered by any health insurance in other countries and cities. The initiative opens windows of hope for patients by having health insurance cover the cost of treatment, starting from early examination until the patient recovers, through advanced levels of distinguished medical, social and psychological care. The initiative, which has many humanitarian dimensions, aims to alleviate the social and economic burdens on the patient and his family, in addition to providing packages of comprehensive and integrated medical and health care services, as well as psychological and social counselling services. |
Al Qatami stated that the Authority was keen to extend the umbrella of health insurance to all members of society in Dubai, based on the provisions of Law No. (11) of 2013, which guarantees the provision of high-quality health services to all members of society, and also based on the set of noble human values that characterize the UAE society, within the framework of which legislation and regulations are enacted to provide a better life for individuals.
He pointed out that the Authority has worked to build new partnerships and strengthen its relationship with the relevant authorities, especially the private health sector, in order to expand the scope of health insurance and diversify its packages and distinguished medical services, which, in their smart means and high-level technologies, are compatible with the aspects of modern life and the quality of life that characterises Dubai.
He pointed out that the Authority has started a new, unprecedented phase globally in terms of health insurance, through the “Basma” initiative, whose name was inspired by the content and atmosphere of happiness in Dubai.
He added that the initiative represents a window of hope and provides the best means of health, social and humanitarian care for cancer patients, starting from the early stages of discovering the disease until recovery.
For his part, the Director of the Health Financing Department at the Authority, Haider Al Youssef, told “Emarat Al Youm” that the most important feature of the new initiative is that it covers early detection of cancer within the health insurance of all insured persons in Dubai, who, according to statistics, are more than 99% of the residents of the emirate, in addition to not being bound by the treatment ceiling specified in the package at 150 thousand dirhams, to include the expenses of all stages of treatment.
He added that the initiative includes a plan for expansion by adding new centers and hospitals to the list of providers of treatment for the disease, as the first phase includes transferring patients to receive treatment at Dubai Hospital.
Al Youssef explained that the initiative focuses in its first phase on the three most important types of cancer: breast, cervical, and colon cancer. Health insurance will undertake periodic examinations for those targeted in various government and private hospitals and health centers. In the event that any infections are discovered, they will be transferred directly for treatment at Dubai Hospital, where health insurance will cover all stages of treatment. This is what distinguishes the initiative and makes it unique globally, and the initiative is unique in having a unified and integrated system for each patient.
He stated that patients will be monitored and provided with medical, social and psychological services around the clock through a high-level call center designated by the Dubai Health Authority to follow up with patients. He pointed out that all stages of examination and treatment will be carried out under the direct supervision of the Authority, to ensure the quality of services provided and the required level of healthcare.
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