Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
03ABUDHABI1728
2003-04-09 13:09:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Abu Dhabi
Cable title:
URGENT NEED FOR FSN HEALTH INSURANCE, UAE
how-tonull Diana T Fritz 05/24/2007 04:33:49 PM From DB/Inbox: Search Results Cable Text: UNCLASSIFIED SIPDIS TELEGRAM April 09, 2003 To: No Action Addressee Action: Unknown From: AMEMBASSY ABU DHABI (ABU DHABI 1728 - ROUTINE) TAGS: APER, AFIN, AMGT Captions: None Subject: URGENT NEED FOR FSN HEALTH INSURANCE, UAE Ref: None _________________________________________________________________ UNCLAS ABU DHABI 01728 SIPDIS CXABU: ACTION: DCM INFO: ADM ECON AMB Laser1: INFO: PER DISSEMINATION: DCM CHARGE: ICAS APPROVED: AMB:MWAHBA DRAFTED: ADM:ABARKLEY CLEARED: DCM:RALBRIGHT; HR:DTHOMAS; ECON:TWILLIAMS VZCZCADI234 RR RUEHC RUEHDI DE RUEHAD #1728 0991309 ZNR UUUUU ZZH R 091309Z APR 03 FM AMEMBASSY ABU DHABI TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 9350 INFO RUEHDI/AMCONSUL DUBAI 3024
UNCLAS ABU DHABI 001728
SIPDIS
FROM AMBASSADOR TO HR/OE DOUG FRANK; NEA/SA/EX BILL
HUDSON
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: APER AFIN AMGT
SUBJECT: URGENT NEED FOR FSN HEALTH INSURANCE, UAE
THE LEVEL OF HEALTH SERVICE PROVIDED BY THE UAE
GOVERNMENT TO THIRD COUNTRY NATIONALS (WHO COMPRISE 100
PERCENT OF OUR FSN STAFF) HAS DIMINISHED SO RAPIDLY IN
THE PAST MONTHS THAT THE NEED FOR A HEALTH INSURANCE
PROGRAM FOR OUR STAFF HAS NOW BECOME URGENT.
CALLS TO THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH (MOH) REVEAL THAT NOT
EVEN THE MINISTER'S PERSONAL AIDE CAN EXPLAIN EXACTLY
WHAT BENEFITS ARE AVAILABLE THROUGH THE HEALTH CARD.
ONE EMPLOYEE IS CHARGED AED 20 FOR TWO INOCULATIONS AND
A CONSULTATION. ANOTHER IS CHARGED AED 200 TO SET A
BROKEN ARM. ANOTHER IS CHARGED FULL COST FOR AN MRI AND
A CAT SCAN (RUNNING INTO THE HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS).
LINES AT THE ONLY HOSPITALS APPROVED FOR USE WITH THE
CARD ARE NOTORIOUS; THE WAIT IS USUALLY SEVERAL HOURS.
EMPLOYEES WAIT TWO MONTHS FOR ROUTINE EXAMINATIONS AND
NOT-SO-ROUTINE CHECKS.
THE GOVERNMENT HEALTH INSURANCE SCHEME FOR EXPATRIATES
IS IN CHAOS. WE SEE PRESS PIECES THAT THE MINISTRY OF
LABOR PLANS TO IMPLEMENT MANDATORY PRIVATE INSURANCE FOR
ALL EXPATRIATES BY MAKING ISSUANCE OF A LABOR PERMIT
CONTINGENT ON PROOF OF SUCH. BUT WE DO NOT EXPECT RAPID
PROGRESS, BECAUSE OF THE POLITICAL IMPOSSIBILITY OF
IMPOSING PRIVATE INSURANCE ON ALL COMPANIES. THE VAST
MAJORITY OF THE UAE LABOR FORCE IS EXPATRIATE.
THE ONLY CLEAR TREND IS THE RAPID UNDERMINING OF THE
BENEFITS OFFERED BY THE UAE GOVERNMENT. POST EXPECTS TO
SUBMIT THE UPDATED INSURANCE COMPANY SURVEY (THREE
COMPANIES) IN TWO WEEKS. I WOULD APPRECIATE A
COMMITMENT BY HR/OE AND NEA/SA/EX TO MOVE FORWARD
RAPIDLY ON THIS ISSUE.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH AND BEST REGARDS.
WAHBA
SIPDIS
FROM AMBASSADOR TO HR/OE DOUG FRANK; NEA/SA/EX BILL
HUDSON
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: APER AFIN AMGT
SUBJECT: URGENT NEED FOR FSN HEALTH INSURANCE, UAE
THE LEVEL OF HEALTH SERVICE PROVIDED BY THE UAE
GOVERNMENT TO THIRD COUNTRY NATIONALS (WHO COMPRISE 100
PERCENT OF OUR FSN STAFF) HAS DIMINISHED SO RAPIDLY IN
THE PAST MONTHS THAT THE NEED FOR A HEALTH INSURANCE
PROGRAM FOR OUR STAFF HAS NOW BECOME URGENT.
CALLS TO THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH (MOH) REVEAL THAT NOT
EVEN THE MINISTER'S PERSONAL AIDE CAN EXPLAIN EXACTLY
WHAT BENEFITS ARE AVAILABLE THROUGH THE HEALTH CARD.
ONE EMPLOYEE IS CHARGED AED 20 FOR TWO INOCULATIONS AND
A CONSULTATION. ANOTHER IS CHARGED AED 200 TO SET A
BROKEN ARM. ANOTHER IS CHARGED FULL COST FOR AN MRI AND
A CAT SCAN (RUNNING INTO THE HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS).
LINES AT THE ONLY HOSPITALS APPROVED FOR USE WITH THE
CARD ARE NOTORIOUS; THE WAIT IS USUALLY SEVERAL HOURS.
EMPLOYEES WAIT TWO MONTHS FOR ROUTINE EXAMINATIONS AND
NOT-SO-ROUTINE CHECKS.
THE GOVERNMENT HEALTH INSURANCE SCHEME FOR EXPATRIATES
IS IN CHAOS. WE SEE PRESS PIECES THAT THE MINISTRY OF
LABOR PLANS TO IMPLEMENT MANDATORY PRIVATE INSURANCE FOR
ALL EXPATRIATES BY MAKING ISSUANCE OF A LABOR PERMIT
CONTINGENT ON PROOF OF SUCH. BUT WE DO NOT EXPECT RAPID
PROGRESS, BECAUSE OF THE POLITICAL IMPOSSIBILITY OF
IMPOSING PRIVATE INSURANCE ON ALL COMPANIES. THE VAST
MAJORITY OF THE UAE LABOR FORCE IS EXPATRIATE.
THE ONLY CLEAR TREND IS THE RAPID UNDERMINING OF THE
BENEFITS OFFERED BY THE UAE GOVERNMENT. POST EXPECTS TO
SUBMIT THE UPDATED INSURANCE COMPANY SURVEY (THREE
COMPANIES) IN TWO WEEKS. I WOULD APPRECIATE A
COMMITMENT BY HR/OE AND NEA/SA/EX TO MOVE FORWARD
RAPIDLY ON THIS ISSUE.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH AND BEST REGARDS.
WAHBA