Dubai Corporation for Ambulance Services (DCAS) has started to implement a self-funding programme to cover basic operational costs, which means that ambulance services will no longer be offered free of cost in the emirate. The first phase of the initiative covers all Dubai residents and will later be extended to include visitors as well.
Patients are able to use their insurance cards to pay for the service. However, those without insurance will be given the service free of cost on a humanitarian basis until required.
Officials announced on Tuesday that the decision, which will be implemented by the end of this year, was not meant to generate income but to improve the services offered.
Khalifa bin Darri, executive director of the DCAS said that this move will help build a strategic plan for development of the health sector in the emirate. "The health insurance coverage shall help in reducing the government spending on ambulance and emergency, while the DCAS shall cover the emergency needs of people who do not have valid health insurance according to the current policy," said bin Darri.
He also commended issuance of the mandatory Health Insurance Law by Dubai government that provides health insurance coverage for locals and expatriates in Dubai, secures and improves provision of the health care for the entire community.
Dr Haider Yousaf, Director of Health Funding at Dubai Health Authority, said that the service was already covered by insurance in the emergency services Basic Health Benefits plan.
DCAS has a fleet of 177 ambulances that include vehicles of various types. It has 68 stations distributed across Dubai and is considered to be the largest in the world. Recently, five Mustangs that can travel at up to 300/km per hour were added to the fleet.
The vehicles, worth Dhs 1 million each, have been modified and come equipped with basic medical equipment designed to respond to emergency calls. They can travel at much faster than ordinary vehicles, reaching an injured patient in record time.