Dubai: The National Health Insurance plan, scheduled to be launched this year, will not affect the e-Health card, according to a senior health official.
The e-Health card was launched by the Dubai Department of Health and Medical Services (DOHMS) and Dubai Naturalisation and Residency Department (DNRD) yesterday.
Khalid Ahmad Al Shaikh Mubarrak, assistant director-general of DOHMS, told Gulf News that when the national insurance plan kicks in, the e-Health card will be automatically upgraded to make it compatible.
"DOHMS will upgrade the health card service with the national insurance policy in the e-card when the plan comes into effect," he said.
The UAE is planning a national health insurance scheme that will be mandatory for all UAE residents. The insurance will replace the health card system in the UAE.
The DRND and DOHMS will not increase the charge for services within the e-Health card, said Lieutenant Colonel Khalid Majid Lootah, DRND assistant director of IT and Quality.
Lt Col Lootah said a Dh300 charge will be levied on the e-Health card by MedServe, the company in charge of issuing the card. Other charges, as for the health card or residency visa, will remain as at present.
He also said residents can apply for the e-Health card at two centres in Dubai, including one on Al Wasl Road and another at Dubai Healthcare City.
He added that 10 more branches to process the application would open soon.
He said the e-Health card was more efficient as it provided "same day, next day" service, an improvement from the current processing time of about three days for each service.
"You can get everything within 24 hours," he said.
Khalid Ahmad Al Shaikh Mubarrak, assistant director-general of DOHMS, told Gulf News that residents could apply for the e-Health card at a few DOHMS centres, such as Al Maktoum Hospital.