US embassy cable - 03ABUDHABI1728

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URGENT NEED FOR FSN HEALTH INSURANCE, UAE

Identifier: 03ABUDHABI1728
Wikileaks: View 03ABUDHABI1728 at Wikileaks.org
Origin: Embassy Abu Dhabi
Created: 2003-04-09 13:09:00
Classification: UNCLASSIFIED
Tags: APER AFIN AMGT
Redacted: This cable was not redacted by Wikileaks.
null
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 

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