Iranian Hospital loses DHA insurance services
Facility not meeting licensing regulations followed by all private clinics in Dubai
Dubai Health Authority (DHA) has ceased the health insurance services for Iranian hospital and has informed insurance companies, instructing them to immediately suspend the Iranian Hospital from their policies.
“The Dubai Health Authority (DHA) would like to inform customers of the Iranian Hospital in Dubai (including its Safa clinic and pharmacy) that it will cease health insurance procedures until the hospital meets the licensing regulations followed by all private health facilities in Dubai,” the regulator said in a statement issued to Gulf News yesterday.
“Inpatients currently under treatment at the hospital and emergency patients will be exempted to ensure their health and safety.
“We regret the inconvenience caused and hope that the hospital will promptly rectify its situation and get the needed licence in line with the regulatory procedures followed by all private hospitals,” the statement added.
The Dubai Health Authority (DHA) issued a notice to insurance companies instructing them to immediately suspend the Iranian Hospital from their policies.
“The Dubai Health Authority [DHA] would like to inform customers of the Iranian Hospital in Dubai [including its Safa clinic and pharmacy] that it will cease health insurance procedures until the hospital meets the licensing regulations followed by all private health facilities in Dubai,” the regulator said in a statement to Gulf News.
“Inpatients currently under treatment at the hospital and emergency patients will be exempted to ensure their health and safety,” the statement added.
According to multiple internal emails reviewed by Gulf News, every single insurance firm in Dubai was informed on Wednesday of the change in policy. Some of the companies that received the notice include Axa, Daman, Takaful Emarat and MetLife.
Insurers take action
On Wednesday, insurance broker Nasco emailed clients, informing them of the decision. “There has been recent instruction received from Dubai Health Authority to immediately suspend Iranian Hospital for all insurance companies,” the company wrote in an email.
Axa and MetLife intend to comply with the instruction, representatives from the two companies said yesterday.
Takaful Emarat declined to comment, and a spokesperson for Daman could not be reached.
Oman Insurance said in a statement that they dropped the Iranian Hospital from their policies in June as a result of the reimposition of US sanctions on Iran.
When reached by telephone, an executive at the Iranian Hospital confirmed the DHA’s decision, but refused to say why it had been made. “This is a private and interdisciplinary matter, not for the public,” the person said.
Elsewhere, insurance companies have been contacting clients to inform them of the decision. Bayzat, a Dubai-based online brokerage, emailed their customers yesterday morning to inform them of the decision.
“Kindly refrain from visiting these establishments,” the email stated.
An email sent to salespeople and brokers at statelinked insurer Daman stated the same. “The DHA has instructed all health insurance companies to suspend the Iranian Hospital,” stated an email sent to staff.
Opened in 1972, the Iranian Hospital is one of the oldest medical facilities in the UAE.
“We regret the inconvenience caused and hope that the hospital will promptly rectify its situation and get the needed licence in line with the regulatory procedures followed by all private hospitals in Dubai,” DHA said.
Inpatients currently under treatment at the hospital and emergency patients will be exempted.”
DHA statement