Le Qatar has just announced that foreign visitors and all expatriates must now be in possession of a health insurance for care within the country.
The announcement was made after a ministerial council meeting. It legislated on the overhaul of the country's healthcare systemparticularly in the face of the pandemic. The new legislation puts in place new procedures, systems and standards required to provide healthcare services in public and private health establishments. It also sets out the rights and duties of patients when receiving healthcare services.
If health services are free for citizens in public establishments, expatriates and visitors to Qatar can only benefit if they have contractual health insurance.
In the past Qatar had already introduced compulsory insurance for foreign visitors. That was in 2015. But this requirement was abolished a year later. Qatar is following in the footsteps of other countries in the region. Since June 2020, insurance is therefore compulsory for all visitors to the United Arab Emirates. This legislation also includes nationals of countries where a visa is not required.
Le Kuwait has also adopted this regulation since November 2020. L'compulsory insurance is 130 Kuwaiti dinars (equivalent to 350 euros). It is charged to expatriates working in the Emirate, as the country remains closed to international visitors for the time being.
