Basic insurance to cover three types of cancer

dubai — Screening and treatment of three types of cancer will be covered by the essential benefits plan under the mandatory health insurance scheme in Dubai. Under the Basmah initiative launched by the Dubai Health Authority (DHA) on Sunday, Dubai visa holders — who are required by law to have a mandatory insurance cover — are eligible for screening and treatment of breast, colorectal and cervical cancers.

The scheme will come into effect from 2018. “So, in a couple of weeks, eligible patients will be screened for cancer and treated under certain criteria,” Dr Haidar Al Yousuf, director of health funding, DHA, told Khaleej Times.

What’s unique about this initiative is that treatment will continue even if the costs exceed the insurance limit.

DUBAI Studies have also shown that in the UAE, women get breast cancer around 10 years earlier than in other parts of the world. Cancer incidence in Dubai is expected to double by 2020 for lung, colorectal and breast cancer in particular.

Dubai has reported that in the past 30 years, cancer incidence has increased significantly. Breast, colon, cervical and prostate cancers are leading causes of death.

Treatment for cancer includes chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Until now, a supplementary insurance holder could get coverage for until Dh150,000 but many insurance plans consider cancer to be a pre-existing condition and, therefore, will not pay for its diagnosis or treatment. The cost of chemotherapy starts from at least Dh25,000 per session, rising to upwards of Dh50,000 at pricier hospitals. In some cases, residents need at least Dh1million of cover a year to cover any form of cancer, according to experts.