Administrative Resolution No. (14) of 2017
Approving the Bylaw for Sending Patients for Overseas Medical Treatment[1]
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We, Humaid Al Qatami, Director General and Chairman of
the Board of Directors of the Dubai Health Authority,
After perusal
of:
Law No. (27) of
2006 Concerning Management of the Government of Dubai Human Resources and its
amendments;
Law No. (13) of
2007 Establishing the Dubai Health Authority and its amendments;
Decree No. (16)
of 2015 Forming the Board of Directors of the Dubai Health Authority;
Decree No. (21)
of 2015 Appointing the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Dubai Health
Authority to Perform the Duties of its Director General; and
Administrative
Resolution No. (178) of 2009 Approving the Bylaw Concerning the Terms and
Conditions for Receiving Overseas Medical Treatment; and
In accordance
with work requirements,
Does hereby issue this
Resolution.
This Bylaw will
be cited as the “Bylaw for Sending Patients for Overseas Medical Treatment”.
The following
words and expressions, wherever mentioned in this Bylaw, will have the meaning
indicated opposite each of them unless the context implies otherwise:
|
UAE: |
The United
Arab Emirates. |
|
Emirate: |
The Emirate of
Dubai. |
|
DHA: |
The Dubai
Health Authority. |
|
Director
General: |
The director
general of the DHA. |
|
Directorate: |
The External Relations
and Media Directorate. |
|
OMTC: |
The Overseas
Medical Treatment Committee. |
|
Patient: |
A person approved
by the DHA to be sent for Overseas Medical Treatment. |
|
Escort: |
A person
approved by the DHA to accompany a Patient for a certain period during
Overseas Medical Treatment. |
|
Medical
Office: |
The entity in
charge of following up a Patient sent for medical treatment, and his Escorts,
in the host country. |
|
Overseas Medical Treatment: |
Medical
treatment recommended by the OMTC to be provided abroad. |
The provisions
of this Bylaw apply to all Patients sent for Overseas Medical Treatment and to
the Escorts approved by the DHA.
The Directorate
will supervise the process of sending Patients to hospitals and specialist
healthcare centres abroad to receive the necessary medical treatment. This
includes:
a.
establishing
the procedures for presenting the reports of patients applying for Overseas
Medical Treatment to the OMTC using a simplified and flexible method that
streamlines the process and expedites decisions;
b.
upon
obtaining the required approvals, coordinating, organising, and supervising the
travel arrangements of Patients and their Escorts and the arrangements for receiving
them at the host country;
c.
managing
the relations of Patients sent for Overseas Medical Treatment, and providing all
relevant facilities and services in a manner that meets the needs and
expectations of Patients and those of their relatives and other stakeholders;
d.
communicating
with all the entities in charge of the provision of Overseas Medical Treatment,
with a view to coordinating and organising the process of sending Patients for Overseas
Medical Treatment;
e.
following
up all cases of Patients who have received Overseas Medical Treatment upon
completion of the treatment and making sure they receive the medical care and
follow-up required to complete their treatment at the healthcare facilities of the
DHA based on the approved medical reports and discharge reports provided upon
completion of the Overseas Medical Treatment;
f.
overseeing
the performance of the DHA Medical Offices abroad, in relation to Patient
services and other support services provided in the host countries; and
g.
cooperating
and coordinating with concerned directorates at the DHA in respect of the
implementation of the financial and administrative procedures for sending Patients
for Overseas Medical Treatment and their Escorts.
1.
Sending
a Patient for Overseas Medical Treatment will be subject to submitting the
originals and copies of the following documents:
a.
a
valid passport issued from the Emirate of Dubai, and a family book (Khulasat
Qaid) or a valid certificate confirming that the Patient is granted the UAE
nationality by a presidential decree;
b.
a
medical report on the applicant’s health condition, which is issued and
certified by a government hospital or an accredited private hospital and which
recommends sending him for Overseas Medical Treatment for better treatment or
follow-up conditions. The report must not be dated earlier than thirty (30)
days. In certain cases, a more recent report issued not earlier than two (2)
weeks may be required. These requirements must be met unless the OMTC decides otherwise;
c.
a
valid Emirates Identity Card; and
d.
a
valid health insurance card.
2.
An
Overseas Medical Treatment decision will be approved:
a.
by
the director of the Directorate, where the Patient is referred by a private
office; or
b.
by
the Director General based on the recommendation of the OMTC, for all other
applications.
a.
A
Patient will receive Overseas Medical Treatment based on his health condition
and the recommendations of the OMTC.
b.
A
Patient will receive an original final medical report issued by the medical
treatment facility and approved by the competent Medical Office, together with its
translation where required. A copy of the same will be provided to the Directorate.
c.
A
Patient will receive medical devices and equipment throughout the period of his
medical treatment based on actual need and as per a report of the treating physician.
d.
When
leaving the host country, a Patient will receive a maximum of four weeks'
supply of prescribed medications based on a report of the treating physician.
e.
A
Patient will be provided with interpreting services during his Overseas Medical
Treatment.
f.
All costs of the Overseas Medical Treatment of
a Patient will be paid according to the relevant approved medical treatment
plan.
g.
In
special cases where the period of medical treatment extends beyond the validity
of the air tickets of a Patient and his escorts, or where visa processing by
the competent entities in the host country is delayed, the validity of these
air tickets will be extended and the cost of completing the visa procedures
will be paid.
h.
A
Patient and his Escorts will be provided with transportation from and to the
airport and the first medical appointment only.
i.
Where
a Patient or an Escort dies, the DHA will bear the cost of repatriation of the
remains to the UAE and will pay daily allowances until final repatriation.
j.
A
Patient will receive air ambulance services as recommended by the treating physician
and approved by the director of the Directorate.
a.
A
Patient must complete the relevant Overseas Medical Treatment forms and
applications.
b.
A
Patient must provide duly certified medical reports as per the regulations
adopted by the DHA.
c.
A
Patient must sign an Overseas Medical Treatment document and send a copy
thereof to the Medical Office located in the host country.
d.
A
Patient must complete the procedures for issuing and renewing visas, and bear
all relevant costs.
e.
A
Patient must abide by the recommendations of the treating physician and the
medical treatment plan approved by the Medical Office.
f.
Except
in emergency cases, a Patient may not transfer to another physician without the
recommendation of his treating physician and the approval of the Medical Office.
g.
A
Patient may not travel to another country during the period specified for his
medical treatment.
h.
A
Patient must receive the medical treatment for which he is sent and attend all
appointments in a timely manner.
i.
A
Patient must notify the Medical Office fourteen (14) days prior to expiry of
the visa.
j.
After
completion of medical treatment, a Patient must leave the host country within
one (1) day from the last medical appointment unless he is obligated to stay
longer due to the unavailability of flight bookings. This does not apply where the
host country is the USA or Canada, in which case the deadline for leaving the
country will be two (2) days. The Medical Office or the health attaché office
will be in charge of all return arrangements.
k.
A
Patient must contact the Directorate upon his return from Overseas Medical
Treatment as per the instructions of the Medical Office.
l.
A
donor must undergo medical tests prior to travelling with the Patient.
a.
The
following requirements will apply to Escorts:
1.
An
Escort must not be less than eighteen (18) years of age. This requirement may
be waived in special circumstances, as assessed and approved by the director of
the Directorate.
2.
An
Escort must be medically fit and able to provide care and all support to the
Patient throughout the period of Overseas Medical Treatment.
3.
A
female Escort must not be pregnant, and particularly must not be in the last
months of pregnancy. This aims to avoid charging the DHA any delivery expenses
or post-natal care expenses for the mother and the newborn.
b.
The number of Escorts of a Patient will be determined
based on the age and health condition of the Patient as follows:
1.
one (1) Escort, where the Patient is aged
eighteen (18) years or more;
2.
two (2) Escorts (the father and mother), where
the Patient is aged less than eighteen (18) years; and
3.
two (2) Escorts in certain special cases,
including:
a.
in
case of an elderly Patient who is aged sixty-five (65) years or more, and
suffers from age-related health issues;
b.
where
the Patient suffers from complete paralysis;
c.
where
the Patient is in a coma due to a stroke; or
d.
in
case of a disabled Patient.
4.
Two
(2) Escorts in any other cases, as recommended by the director of the
Directorate and approved by the Director General.
c.
Notwithstanding
the provisions of this Article, the DHA will not be liable for any failure by an
Escort to obtain leave from his employer.
a.
An
Escort must sign an undertaking, on the form prescribed for this purpose, to
follow up the medical condition of the Patient throughout the escort period.
b.
An
Escort must have the necessary visas issued and renewed, and bear all relevant charges.
c.
An
Escort must follow up the medical condition of the Patient and coordinate with
the Medical Office in respect of any matters related to the Patient or his
medical treatment and medical appointments.
d.
An
Escort may leave the host country only after the end of the period of medical
treatment; under compelling circumstances and after notifying the Medical
Office; or upon expiry of the escort period.
e.
An
Escort may be replaced only after the lapse of one (1) month from the arrival
of a substitute Escort.
a.
The
allowances of Patients and Escorts stated in Schedule (1) attached hereto are
hereby approved. These include accommodation allowance, food and beverage
allowance, transportation allowance, and any other expenses, except for medical
equipment costs, medical treatment expenses, physician's fees, and costs of medications.
b.
Patients
and Escorts will be paid economy class air tickets allowance.
c.
An
air ticket may be upgraded only in special cases based on the recommendation of
the OMTC, or the treating physician, and approval of the director of the
Directorate.
d.
A
donor, where required, will be treated as a Patient in terms of daily
allowances and medical treatment expenses, only during the period approved by
the DHA for his travel to donate an organ to the Patient.
e.
The
allowances payable to a Patient and his Escorts will be disbursed through the
Medical Office as follows:
1.
The
allowances for the first week will be disbursed in advance to the Patient and
his Escorts. Subsequent allowance payments will be disbursed on a weekly basis.
The director of the Medical Office may, where required, disburse allowances for
longer periods.
2.
The accounting entries related to the allowances of
Patients and their Escorts will be adjusted before their departure from the
host country.
3.
In
case of status change or expiry of visit visas, the financial entitlements of a
Patient and his Escorts will be disbursed to them in the host country until their
return to the UAE.
Notwithstanding
the provisions of Article (10) of this Bylaw, entitlement to allowances will be
forfeited where no acceptable reason is provided in the following cases:
a.
The
Patient or Escort leaves the host country without the approval of the
Directorate or the Medical Office.
b.
The
Patient or Escort overstays in the host country after the lapse of one (1) day
from the last official medical appointment, unless he is required to overstay
for reasons beyond the control of the Patient or Escort.
c.
The
Patient fails to attend a medical appointment. In this case, the allowances
will be forfeited in respect of the period from the date of receiving the last
allowance payment until the date of the next medical appointment.
d.
The
Patient changes the treating physician approved by the Medical Office, in other
than emergency cases, to a new physician without first obtaining the approval
of the Medical Office.
In certain
cases, medical staff from within or outside of the DHA may accompany a Patient
sent for Overseas Medical Treatment based on the recommendation of the treating
physician. Allowances will be disbursed to the accompanying medical staff as
follows:
a.
return
air tickets allowance;
b.
suitable
accommodation allowance;
c.
allowance
for transportation to and from the airport in the UAE and in the host country;
d.
daily
allowance for each day or part of a day spent outside the UAE as follows:
1.
eight
hundred dirhams (AED 800.00) for medical staff;
2.
six
hundred and fifty dirhams (AED 650.00) for paramedical staff; and
3.
five
hundred dirhams (AED 500.00) for nursing staff.
The Directorate
will be in charge of preparing the policies, procedures, and forms governing
this Bylaw in coordination with the concerned entities in the DHA.
The
above-mentioned Administrative Resolution No. (178) of 2009 is hereby repealed.
Any other provision contradicting the provisions of this Resolution is also
hereby repealed.
All Patients and
their Escorts must comply with this Bylaw and its schedules.
This Resolution
comes into force as of 1 February 2017, and will be published in the Official
Gazette. All organisational units will, each within its own jurisdiction,
implement the provisions hereof.
Humaid Al Qatami
Chairman of the Board of Directors
Director General
Issued in Dubai on 6 February 2017
Corresponding to 9
Jumada al-Ula 1438 A.H.
Allowances
I.
European Countries, except the United Kingdom
|
Category |
Daily
Allowance in Euros |
|
Patient |
150.00 |
|
Escort 1 |
150.00 |
|
Escort 2 |
50.00 |
II.
United Kingdom
|
Category |
Daily
Allowance in Pounds Sterling |
|
Patient |
120.00 |
|
Escort 1 |
120.00 |
|
Escort 2 |
50.00 |
III.
Republic of India
|
Category |
Daily
Allowance in UAE Dirhams |
|
Patient |
300.00 |
|
Escort 1 |
300.00 |
|
Escort 2 |
100.00 |
IV.
United States of America
|
Category |
Daily
Allowance in US Dollars |
|
Patient |
150.00 |
|
Escort 1 |
150.00 |
|
Escort 2 |
50.00 |
V.
Kingdom of Thailand
|
Category |
Daily
Allowance in UAE Dirhams |
|
Patient |
300.00 |
|
Escort 1 |
300.00 |
|
Escort 2 |
100.00 |
VI.
Singapore and South Korea
|
Category |
Daily
Allowance in US Dollars |
|
Patient |
130.00 |
|
Escort 1 |
130.00 |
|
Escort 2 |
50.00 |
VII.
Arab Countries
|
Category |
Daily
Allowance in UAE Dirhams |
|
Patient |
300.00 |
|
Escort 1 |
300.00 |
|
Escort 2 |
100.00 |
·
A maximum amount of one thousand dirhams (AED
1,000.00) will be disbursed to a Patient sent overseas for ophthalmic treatment
against an invoice for the frame of prescription glasses. This limit does not apply
to customised prescription glasses recommended by treating physicians.
©2024 The Supreme Legislation Committee in the
Emirate of Dubai
[1]Every effort has been made to produce an
accurate and complete English version of this legislation. However, for the
purpose of its interpretation and application, reference must be made to the
original Arabic text. In case of conflict, the Arabic text will prevail.