Oman - Details of mandatory health ins. Revealed

The Capital Market Authority (CMA) has issued the Unified Health Insurance Policy (UHIP) to be implemented for private sector employees, including expatriates and visitors to the Sultanate.

In a press statement, Abdullah Salim al Salmi said the Unified Health Insurance Policy (UHIP) is one of the main components of compulsory health insurance for the employees of the private sector, expatriates and visitors Dhamani, which CMA is preparing for actual implementation in collaboration with the concerned entities in implementation of the decision of the Council of Ministers NO. 26/2017 to prepare the required regulations and legislation to implement health insurance scheme in Oman.

He pointed out that the issuance of UHIP is a declaration of preparedness of the legislation infrastructure of the health insurance scheme Dhamani as a prelude for gradual implementation in phases after approval of the Council of Ministers. He added that the implementation phases will be determined as per the classification of the commercial companies and the ability of the private health institutions to accommodate the expected numbers as the scheme is expected to provide insurance coverage for 2.1 million workers in the private sector Omanis and residents in addition to the visitors.

Al Salmi said the issuance of the policy is very important at this time for insurance companies as opportunity to establish health insurance products commensurate with the expected demand in accordance with the high-quality standards.

On the methodology of preparation of the policy, Al Salmi said the UHIP was prepared based on a number of mainstays in that the clauses must be fair and equitable in regulating the relationship between the health service providers and insurance companies to render appropriate health coverage and the insurance premium shall not cause additional burden or expensive financial cost on the employers in addition to meeting the treatment needs of the insured smoothly without any complications or unnecessary procedures.

He pointed out that UHIP Dhamani was issued according to the same methodology of drafting the laws and regulations governing the capital market and insurance sectors such as community partnership among the related parties and passed through a number of steps with the participation of the Ministry of Health, General Union of the Workers of the Sultanate of Oman, Oman Chamber of Commerce and Industry in addition to insurance companies operating in Oman and private health institutions for exchange of views in the interest of the public.


Source: Oman Observer