Case Study: Health System and Economics in the U.A.E. (PUBH6003)

This case study analyzes the health system and economics of the United Arab Emirates. It begins with an executive summary highlighting the paper's focus on public health worker aptitudes, strategies for universal health coverage, and the role of government regulation. The discussion section examines the organization and funding of the U.A.E. public health system, detailing the establishment of the Department of Health and Medical Services and various departments within medical districts. It explores the building blocks of a healthy system, including health workers and healthcare facilities, and discusses potential health reforms, specifically emphasizing the need for advancements in research infrastructure and qualified manpower. The paper highlights the increasing demand for health services and concludes by emphasizing the importance of promoting health programs and further developing the U.A.E. as a world-class healthcare country. References include various sources related to health and organizational performance in the U.A.E.

Running head: HEALTH SYSTEM AND ECONOMICS
HEALTH SYSTEM AND ECONOMICS
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Authors note

1HEALTH SYSTEM AND ECONOMICS
Executive Summary
The chief objectives of this project is to understand the concept of the health system and
economics in the U.A.E. The paper focuses on understanding the essential aptitudes of public
health workers, and how public health competencies can be fostered. The following section of
the paper analyses the public health expenditure estimation strategies for the development of
universal health coverage. Lastly, the paper concludes on understanding the role of government
regulation in the healthcare sector.

2HEALTH SYSTEM AND ECONOMICS
Table of Contents
Introduction..........................................................................................................................3
Discussion............................................................................................................................3
U.A.E. public health system (organized and funded).....................................................3
Building blocks of Healthy System.................................................................................5
Potential Health Reform..................................................................................................6
Conclusion...........................................................................................................................7
References............................................................................................................................8

3HEALTH SYSTEM AND ECONOMICS
Introduction
The skill and knowledge of avoiding illness, endorsing health, and prolonging life
through the systematized efforts of society are known as the public health system. In the
1990s, U.A.E. had a contemporary health care system with all the facilities
and experts from all domains od medical sciences. Most of the population
had access to the necessary facilities. In 2000, the outlaid for public health
increased up to £452 million.
Discussion
U.A.E. public health system (organized and funded)
The rapid and extensive increase in population in U.A.E. made a vast
socio-economic development in the sector of public health. The need made
them develop healthcare facilities in all seven emirates. Department of
Health and Medical Services (DOHMS) was established in Dubai. The federal
ministry was made responsible for not only health care but also for the
hospitals in northern Emirates.
Different departments in all medical districts are established to plan
and perform everything according to the Ministry of Health (M.O.H.). The list
of the departments is:
1. The Department of Development and computer – The national
health policies are developed and devised in this department before
being submitted to the authorities for a final decision.

4HEALTH SYSTEM AND ECONOMICS
2. Statistics department – All the statisticians gather at this point from
all medical districts, hospitals, centers, and other sectors. To help, in
the process of planning, this section analyzes all the data.
3. Computer Center – The primary purpose of establishing this
department is to enhance the performance of all health departments
and institutions. It also updates all the data regularly.
4. Administrative Department – Using modern managerial methods,
plan, prepare and maintain the workforce development system.
5. Department of primary health care (P.H.C.) – after signing the
Alma Ata declaration, U.A.E. has become one of the first countries
introducing P.H.C. in 1984.
6. Nursing Department – The primary reason for the nursing
department is to provide quality knowledge of nursing to meet up the
requirements and problems of the patients.
7. Dentistry department – The number of dentists increased by 15%
from 1995. So, the dental service was divided into three levels.
 Detailed dental health care provided in 72 units situated in P.H.C.
centers and institutional health clinics
 Specifically, hospital dental service
 In medical districts, eight specialized dental services were provided
Three different authorities administer the public health system of the
U.A.E., the (Abu Dhabi) HAAD in the capital, MoH, and D.H.A. in Dubai and
MoH in northern emirates. To bring innovation and improvement, these three

5HEALTH SYSTEM AND ECONOMICS
authorities keep on planning and implementing changes for a better public
health service.
The primary fundraiser for the health care system is the patient itself.
Almost all the people living in the U.A.E. have health insurance. To get
insured is a necessary process in U.A.E. not only for the nation but for
immigrants as well. The sponsor has to provide insurance coverage to their
employees and children(Alsyouf et al., 2018).
Health insurance does not cover all medical expenses like dental,
dermatological, and cosmetic services that are not a part of it. According to a
recent report, the G.D.P. of U.A.E. will rise with the projected budget of
US$25.7 billion in 2024 (Kambris, Khan & Al Falasi, 2019). The use of health
facilities has been noticed low before the implementation of this law of
insurance. This insurance gives access to health facilities to all the people,
which will increase the number of patients in the hospital drastically. 73%of
the hospital’s beds capacity belongs to the government so that significant
funding is expected from the private sector. Some private companies also
raise funds for the health sector in the U.A.E(Younies et al., 2016 ).
The general government is also a source of funding in the health
sector. Two thousand seven hundred seventeen patients are sponsored by
Dubai Health Authority for their treatment abroad (Edrees et al., 2017). In 2013,
1400 has been sponsored by the health authority of Abu Dhabi. There are
other authorities also involved in sponsoring the people of the U.A.E. like the

6HEALTH SYSTEM AND ECONOMICS
Ministry of Defense, Ministry of Health, and Abu Dhabi national oil company
and other prominent organizations. (Koornneef, Robben & Blair, 2017)
Building blocks of Healthy System
As per the need of WHO key building blocks, the U.A.E. health care
system has upgraded itself to provide the quality and upgraded services to
its people. Keeping in mind the economic condition, MoH has shown interest
in the health care system(Paulo, Loney & Lapão, 2017). Some of the relevant
blocks of the health system are shared as follows:
1. Health workers – The number of health workers increased in
the U.A.E.’s health system. The emirates of Abu Dhabi presented
the highest density in 2013, which include 52.1 nursing staff,
25.1physicians, 5.9 pharmacists, and 4.3 dentists per 10,000
people.
2. SEHA – It is a health system facility providing community-based
services in the Emirates of Abu Dhabi. It has the command over
12 hospitals, 11 dialysis centers, 62 ambulatory healthcare
centers and clinics, and two blood banks.
3. Hospitals – In Abu Dhabi, there are 41 private and public
hospitals, 335 clinics, and 402 medical stores.
4. Ambulatory Healthcare services – The joint commission
international (J.C.I.), a non-profitable organization that works for
improving the performance of healthcare solutions.

7HEALTH SYSTEM AND ECONOMICS
5. Primary Health Care – Under SEHA, the A.H.S. has 38 clinics
providing 20 facilities to the eastern region and 18 under the
area of Abu Dhabi. SEHA. Ambulatory Healthcare Services, these
facilities are not available in the western area.
Potential Health Reform
In the last decade, there has been a significant development in the
U.A.E.’s health sector, but the area of improvement is always there. After
emphasizing all the reforms, two of them need to be made more robust
(Mehrajunnisa & Jabeen, 2019). They fall under the following categories:
Research
More expertise is required to be developed in health care for additional
funding and to have more grasp on the minute details of the medical field.
The only institutions working on health research are Arab Emirates
University, Al Ain, and the Ras Al Khaimah Medical and Health Sciences
University (RAKMHSU). Still, RAKMHSU lacks in funding and scholarships so
could not attract the student
Infrastructure and Manpower
The remote areas across the Emirates demand some investment for
their foundation. One of the things missing in both the private and public
sectors is the lack of qualified staff. MoH should provide staff to reduce the
burden of others(Mehmood et al., 2019).

8HEALTH SYSTEM AND ECONOMICS
Conclusion
U.A.E. health care services have an ever-increasing demand. The MoH
has paid particular attention to promote health programs for people of every
age. An individual health education program is developed. All the leading
companies of the U.S are now partners with U.A.E. to benefit not only their
partners but also for the wellness of people of the U.A.E. They should provide
more opportunities to become a world-class medical and health care country.

9HEALTH SYSTEM AND ECONOMICS
References
Alsyouf, I., Alsuwaidi, M., Hamdan, S., & Shamsuzzaman, M. (2018). Impact of ISO 55000 on
organisational performance: evidence from certified U.A.E. firms. Total Quality
Management & Business Excellence, 1-19.
Edrees, H. H., Ismail, M. N. M., Kelly, B., Goeschel, C. A., Berenholtz, S. M., Pronovost, P.
J., ... & Weaver, S. J. (2017). Examining influences on speaking up among critical care
healthcare providers in the United Arab Emirates. International Journal for Quality in
Health Care, 29(7), 948-960.
Kambris, M. E. K., Khan, S., & Al Falasi, S. N. (2019). Perceptions of Health and Safety among
Workers in the Automotive Repair Industry in Dubai (United Arab Emirates): A Cross-
sectional Exploratory Study. Journal of Ecophysiology and Occupational Health, 19, 3-4.
Koornneef, E., Robben, P., & Blair, I. (2017). Progress and outcomes of health systems reform in
the United Arab Emirates: a systematic review. B.M.C. health services research, 17(1),
672.
Mehmood, S. T., Tahir, N., Kiani, S., Hammad, M., & Tahir, R. (2019). U.A.E. Diverse
HealthCare Compass. Archives of Business Research, 7(7), 188-206.
Mehrajunnisa, M., & Jabeen, F. (2019). Ranking the enablers promoting female empowerment in
the U.A.E. health care sector. International Journal of Gender and Entrepreneurship.
Paulo, M. S., Loney, T., & Lapão, L. V. (2017). The primary health care in the emirate of Abu
Dhabi: are they aligned with the chronic care model elements?. B.M.C. health services
research, 17(1), 725.

10HEALTH SYSTEM AND ECONOMICS
Younies, H., Elzenaty, R. J., Gantasala, S., & Nwagwu, E. (2016). Healthcare Forecasting in the
United Arab Emirates (U.A.E.). Journal of health and human services administration, 3-
14.