Gulf Times, 19 May 2022: Qatar’s Government Communication Office has issued a compulsory health insurance clarification.

They have said the system covers non-Qatari workers in the public and private sectors.

This includes manual workers, craftsmen, domestic workers and visitors.

They issued the clarification following the approval of a draft Decision by the Cabinet on healthcare services regulation in the country.

The draft includes provisions related to the rights and obligations of healthcare services beneficiaries, insurance company and healthcare service provider obligations and supervision and control of healthcare services.

They added citizens will receive free-of-charge healthcare services at Government health facilities and health insurance will be mandatory to ensure the provision of basic healthcare services to expatriates and visitors.

They went on to say basic healthcare services include preventive, curative and rehabilitative services, as well as other services set out in the Implementing Regulations.

They said employers and recruiters will pay the premium to cover the basic services of their employees or recruits. In addition to basic services, employers and recruiters may also request additional services subject to additional costs.

Basic healthcare services for visitors include emergency and accident treatment services.

Under the regime, they said insurance companies must provide employers or recruiters with health insurance cards or an equivalent as well as offer hospitals and clinics tailored to them.

Former employees have to be removed from the insurance policy and employers and recruiters must follow the relevant procedures to notify the insurance company after the termination of the employment or recruitment contract.

If an employee or recruit fails to transfer their sponsorship under a new employer on the termination of their contract, the insurance coverage may be extended until the policy or the legally permitted period of residence expires, whichever comes first.

The obligations of employers and recruiters 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.

These include contracting with one of the registered insurance companies to cover all employees and recruits and annually renewing the contract within the prescribed deadlines.

It also includes providing healthcare services to all workers and recruits during the period before residence is granted or transferred.

In addition, it includes providing the contracted insurance company with all the necessary information to register all beneficiaries. Also reported in Al-Sharq on 18 May 2022. For full story, click here and here.

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