During the Cabinet meeting held on 18 May 2022, the Council of Ministers approved a draft resolution regarding regulating health care services within Qatar. In a tweet, Qatar's Government Communications Office gives a breakdown of the services being regulated as per the resolution.

The law regulating health care services in Qatar no. (22) of 2021 aims to improve health care services in the public and private sectors, as per the Ministry of Public Health.

The ministry explained that the introduction of compulsory health insurance as a component of the law will require residents and visitors to provide health insurance through insurance companies registered with the ministry of public health to provide them with basic health services.

To ensure smooth implementation, the ministry of public health confirmed that the application of the law will be in stages so that the first phase of visitors will begin in accordance with the procedures and controls established and the other stages will be announced later on.

The Ministry of Public Health also confirmed that the implementation of the health insurance system will contribute to enhancing the competitiveness of the provision of health care services, including increased participation of the insurance sector to support the health

Part of these health care services in Qatar include mandatory health insurance for expats and visitors of Qatar.

Below are the services included in the draft resolution regarding regulating health care services within Qatar:

• Citizens receive free-of-charge healthcare services at government health facilities.
• Insurance companies must provide employers or recruiters with health insurance cards or an equivalent, in addition to offering treatment networks (hospitals and clinics) tailored to them.
• Health insurance shall be mandatory to ensure the provision of basic healthcare services to expats and visitors.
• Basic healthcare services for visitors include emergency and accident treatment services, as indicated in the Regulations.
• The compulsory health insurance system includes the following categories: Non-Qatari workers in the public and private sectors, including manual workers, craftsmen, domestic workers and visitors.
• To have former employees removed from the insurance policy, employers and recruiters must follow the procedures in place to notify the insurance company upon the termination of said employment or recruitment contract for any reason.
• Basic healthcare services include preventive, curative and rehabilitative services, in addition to other services set forth in the Executive Regulations.
• If an employee or recruit fails to transfer his or her sponsorship under a new employer upon the termination of his or her contract, the insurance coverage may be extended until either the policy or the legally permitted period of residence expires, whichever comes first.
• Employers and recruiters shall pay the premium to cover the basic services of their employees or recruits. (In addition to services, employers and recruiters may also question services subject to additional costs.)

Employer and Recruiter Obligations

The country's Government Communications Office also mentions that the obligation of both the employer and the recruiter towards their employees and recruits begins from the date of their entry into the country or from the date of a worker's sponsorship transfer under a new employer or recruiter. Below are the Employer and Recruiter obligations in terms of these health care services:

• Contracting with one of the registered insurance companies to cover all employees and recruits and annually renewing the contract within the prescribed deadlines.
• Providing the contracted insurance company with all the data necessary to register all beneficiaries.
  
• Providing healthcare services to all workers and recruits during the period prior to granting or transferring residence.

Today, during its regular meeting, the Council of Ministers approved a draft resolution regarding regulating health care services within the State of #Qatar. pic.twitter.com/jCWgjXMsTs

— مكتب الاتصال الحكومي (@GCOQatar) May 18, 2022

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Source: GCO Qatar, MOPH
Cover image credit: Shutterstock

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ILQ Staff

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