The 15th edition of the official gazette issued by the Ministry of Justice has published Law no 22 for 2021 on the regulations of health care services inside the country.
The law specifies the standards, procedures and regulations to offer health services at both the government and public facilities and the implementation and monitoring of the mandatory health insurance for expatriates.
According to the main features of the law published by local Arabic daily Arrayah Friday, it stipulates that Qatari citizens will receive health care services at the government facilities free of charge. However, on a Cabinet decision based Minister of Public Health's directive, it is possible to specify certain categories of people who can be offered health care services at the government facilities free of charge. Such persons will be issued a health card with fees that will be determined by the Minister of Public Health.
As for expatriates and visitors, health insurance shall be mandatory for offering them the basic health services and the regulations of the law will determine them. The recruiter or the employer can provide more additional health care services for his worker and their families according to such regulations. The data and specifications of the health insurance card will be determined by a decision of the Minister of Public Health. A Cabinet decision may exempt some categories of such people from this mandatory health insurance. Accordingly, the Minister of Public Health will issue a decision to specify the conditions and standards for offering them health care services.
The law stresses that an entry visa cannot be issued or renewed for a visitor or resident or granting them a residency permit and renewing it, or employing an expatriate without submitting first proof of having valid health insurance throughout the duration of the stay. The department concerned will specify the mechanism of collecting the health insurance installments.
The law stipulates that the employer is committed to pay for the health insurance installments to provide his workers coverage for the necessary basic health care services. As for paying the health insurance installments for the family members of the employees, the payment process starts from the date of their entry into the country according to the specifications determined by the executive regulations of the law.
The employer is also committed to supply his employees with a health insurance card after issuing the insurance document and present proof of this when issuing or renewing the residency permits. Further, the employer is committed to pay for any costs of health care services offered to the beneficiaries under him on account of his failure to maintain a valid health insurance for them.
The law also stipulates that the recruiter shall be committed to pay for the health insurance of those he brings into the country from the date of their entry and until they come under the health insurance coverage from the employer.
Visitors have to pay for their health insurance or prove that they have a valid international health insurance for Qatar and cover their stay in the country.
The law penalises any private health care facility equipped to provide emergency or accident care, if it fails to do so, with a fine of a maximum sum of QR500,000. Besides, any health insurance that refuses to offer the any of the services in the contract according to the stipulation of the law will be penalised by a maximum fine of QR250,000.
Further, any employer or recruiter who refuses to provide the necessary health insurance coverage or pay the insurance installments or collected any part of these instalments from his workers or the persons he is committed to pay for under the law will be penalised by a maximum fine of QR30,000. The penalty will be multiplied according to the number of the persons related to the violations, until the deducted sums are reimbursed.
According to the main features of the law published by local Arabic daily Arrayah Friday, it stipulates that Qatari citizens will receive health care services at the government facilities free of charge. However, on a Cabinet decision based Minister of Public Health's directive, it is possible to specify certain categories of people who can be offered health care services at the government facilities free of charge. Such persons will be issued a health card with fees that will be determined by the Minister of Public Health.
As for expatriates and visitors, health insurance shall be mandatory for offering them the basic health services and the regulations of the law will determine them. The recruiter or the employer can provide more additional health care services for his worker and their families according to such regulations. The data and specifications of the health insurance card will be determined by a decision of the Minister of Public Health. A Cabinet decision may exempt some categories of such people from this mandatory health insurance. Accordingly, the Minister of Public Health will issue a decision to specify the conditions and standards for offering them health care services.
The law stresses that an entry visa cannot be issued or renewed for a visitor or resident or granting them a residency permit and renewing it, or employing an expatriate without submitting first proof of having valid health insurance throughout the duration of the stay. The department concerned will specify the mechanism of collecting the health insurance installments.
The law stipulates that the employer is committed to pay for the health insurance installments to provide his workers coverage for the necessary basic health care services. As for paying the health insurance installments for the family members of the employees, the payment process starts from the date of their entry into the country according to the specifications determined by the executive regulations of the law.
The employer is also committed to supply his employees with a health insurance card after issuing the insurance document and present proof of this when issuing or renewing the residency permits. Further, the employer is committed to pay for any costs of health care services offered to the beneficiaries under him on account of his failure to maintain a valid health insurance for them.
The law also stipulates that the recruiter shall be committed to pay for the health insurance of those he brings into the country from the date of their entry and until they come under the health insurance coverage from the employer.
Visitors have to pay for their health insurance or prove that they have a valid international health insurance for Qatar and cover their stay in the country.
The law penalises any private health care facility equipped to provide emergency or accident care, if it fails to do so, with a fine of a maximum sum of QR500,000. Besides, any health insurance that refuses to offer the any of the services in the contract according to the stipulation of the law will be penalised by a maximum fine of QR250,000.
Further, any employer or recruiter who refuses to provide the necessary health insurance coverage or pay the insurance installments or collected any part of these instalments from his workers or the persons he is committed to pay for under the law will be penalised by a maximum fine of QR30,000. The penalty will be multiplied according to the number of the persons related to the violations, until the deducted sums are reimbursed.
