Basmah Initiative For Free Cancer Screening And Treatment
18 Jan, 2018Basmah is an initiative of the Health Funding Department of the Dubai Health Authority (DHA) for screening and treating cancer.
Basmah is an initiative of the Health Funding Department of the Dubai Health Authority (DHA) for screening and treating cancer. Under the initiative, the basic benefit plan of the Dubai Mandatory Health Insurance Scheme covers screening as well as treatment of three types of cancer -- breast, colorectal and cervical. Those detected with these types of cancer will receive coverage from screening until treatment. Screening is strictly in accordance with international screening criteria.
The Basmah initiative made the DHA the first government entity in the world to provide a complete spectrum of care from screening to treatment for the three types of cancer under the basic benefit plan. Prior to the scheme, cancer coverage was limited to AED150,000.
All Dubai visa holders, who automatically by law have the mandatory health insurance cover, are eligible for the screening and treatment. If a patient is detected with any of the three cancers during this screening, the DHA Patient Tracking and Follow-Up Center is automatically notified. They then ensure that the complete treatment from process for the patient is smooth and streamlined.
“This initiative will help in early diagnosis as screening is now a part of the basic benefit plan. Additionally, we will be able to provide financial and emotional support to patients suffering from these three types of cancer. This is possible because of the support of our partners, both government and private. Our aim is to provide the highest level of quality care for patients and to support them the best we can,” said Mr Humaid Al Qutami, Chairman of the Board and Director-General of the DHA, at the time of the launch of the initiative.
The Health Funding Department had earlier added screening services for diabetes, heart disease, new born and developmental screening as part of the mandatory health insurance cover. Dubai introduced its mandatory health insurance scheme in 2014.
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