How to Get a Dubai Health Card for Children?
Moving to Dubai with your family means you get to explore a new home together. However, it also suggests that you have to do some planning. Irrespective of whether you already have children or are expecting a child, you have to think about how you will take care of their health before shifting to Dubai.
The Dubai Health Card comes to your rescue here as it is not only beneficial to adults, but to children as well. For kids, one of the advantages of the Dubai Health Card is free vaccinations from birth up to grade 11.
We know that beginning a family is one of the greatest joys of life, but it needs a lot of planning. If you are planning on starting a family in the city, it is crucial to know about the Dubai Health Card for children, which is extremely useful if you are not covered by private health insurance.
In this all-encompassing guide, we provide everything there is to know about the health card in Dubai for children to help you stay up to date with its mechanisms.
What is a Children’s Health Card Dubai?
In Dubai, private hospitals charge a fee for vaccinations for children. Insurance providers generally cover this cost. Parents whose private health insurance company doesn’t cover vaccination expenses can avail themselves of free vaccinations for kids at the government hospitals in Dubai. To do so, having a Dubai Health Card is paramount.
If you or your husband or wife is working in Dubai and the employer doesn’t provide health insurance coverage, you have to apply for a health card. This card offers coverage for basic healthcare in the entire country, and is similar to what UAE nationals receive through public healthcare.
It is recommended to apply for a health card irrespective of whether you already have a policy or not, though the new law demands that you must have medical coverage to enter the city.
The Dubai Health Authority (DHA) has implemented a vital immunisation policy that requires all children living in the country to be vaccinated. Immunisation for a baby in Dubai can be done at public as well as private hospitals.
In Dubai, healthcare facilities have trained staff holding a valid DHA licence. You must have a health card if you want to use public healthcare facilities in Dubai as an expat – even if you already have private health insurance.
Let us look at how to apply for a health card in Dubai for children.
How to Get a Children’s Health Card in Dubai?
The procedure for getting a Dubai Health Card for expats is simple. The Dubai Health Card for newborns can be issued for a fee of AED 120 and is valid for one year. You can get it from the following channels.
- Applying through DHA’s online portal
- Visiting any one of the DHA’s Primary Healthcare Centres
Expat parents must get a vaccination book from where the child had their latest vaccinations or the birthing centre. In stark contrast to the Dubai Health Card, which may showcase information about healthcare visits, the vaccination book only provides information regarding scheduled vaccinations.
Keep in mind that parents will first need to follow the steps to register the birth of their child in the city and get a valid birth certificate before applying for a Dubai Health Card for vaccinations.
Application Process for a Children’s Health Card in Dubai
The benefits of the Dubai Health Card are varied. Here is a list of the documents needed to apply for a DHA health card.
- Original Emirates ID of parents
- Birth certificate of the child
- One passport-size photograph of each parent and the child.
- Original passport and visa page of parents
- Tenancy contract or latest DEWA bill
- Vaccination book for children (children between 0 to 5 years old)
- Baby’s passport with an entry permit or valid visa.
- Baby’s Emirates ID.
Dubai’s Immunisation Policy
The National Immunisation Program in the UAE has played a significant role in maintaining the world-class public health services in the country.
Since the launch of the program in 1980, the UAE has seen a dramatic decline in the transmission of various infectious diseases. To maintain the high quality of public healthcare in the country, the government offers free immunisation for its residents.
Following the UAE National Children's Immunisation Program, the Dubai Health Authority’s (DHA) immunisation policy mandates that all children residing in Dubai be vaccinated. The Dubai Health Card makes it possible for children to get free vaccination from birth until grade 11.
Getting Health Insurance in Dubai
Since 2014, it has been compulsory for expat workers in the city to have a minimum level of health insurance. As in many other nations, paediatricians are the first port of call for kids in the UAE. Like elsewhere, they tend to look after the health of children until they are 18 years old. You can find paediatricians at clinics, hospitals, and doctors’ offices. They assist with common vaccinations, injuries and illnesses, and growth and development.
Parents have free choice of paediatrician, although you will need to find one covered by your insurance. Irrespective of whether you are looking for newborn insurance or family health insurance in Dubai, acting quickly is the key. Try and compare different health insurance plans to find the best health insurance in the city for your needs and budget.
Even though all employers are mandated to offer private medical insurance for their employees, the coverage usually meets the minimum requirement. Thankfully, you can top up your existing plan to improve your level of benefits and coverage.
DHA Primary Healthcare Centres List
Children’s healthcare in the country is available through paediatric wards at most hospitals, at dedicated children’s hospitals, and private clinics throughout the UAE.
Expat parents should check their insurance policies to figure out exactly which hospitals and paediatricians are included in their network and register their child with one of these. You will generally need to provide details of your child’s identification and birth certificate and fill out necessary paperwork.
All DHA healthcare centres provide vaccinations for children in Dubai. But parents must apply for a health and vaccination card first, which costs AED 120.
As part of its system for children’s healthcare in the country, the Ministry of Health and Prevention offers check-ups for newborns. Fortunately, due to this service, all children in the country undergo routine testing for 40 genetic diseases. As such, if a child suffers from congenital malformations, sickle-cell anaemia, or endocrine or biotin deficiencies, doctors can diagnose, detect, and treat these issues early on.
Furthermore, doctors will typically conduct several other tests on infants that will help detect critical hearing disorders, cardiac deformities, and other dangerous congenital health problems.
To issue a government health card in Dubai at DHA’s Primary Healthcare Centres, you can visit the registration desk at any of the below-mentioned locations with the necessary documents. They will provide you with the Dubai Health Card application form, which you can fill out and pay the fees afterwards for issuance.
24/7 Centers
These centres are open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
- Al Barsha Health Center
- Airport Medical Center
- Senior Happiness Center
- Nad Al Hamar Health Center
Other Centers
The following centers are open from 07:30 to 22:00 from Monday to Thursday, 07:30 to 12:00 on Friday, and closed on Saturday and Sunday (exceptions are noted).
- Al Khawaneej Health Center
- Al Badaa Health Center
- Al Mamzar Health Center
- Al Lusaily Health Center (07:30 to 22:00 from Monday to Thursday, 07:30 to 12:00 on Friday, and 8:00 to 14:30 on Sunday)
- Al Mankhool Health Center (07:30 to 22:00 from Monday to Thursday, 07:30 to 12:00 on Friday, and 7:30 to 14:00 on Sunday)
- DAFZA Health Center (07:30 to 15:30 from Monday to Thursday, 7:30 to 12:00 on Friday, closed on Saturday and Sunday)
- Al Mizhar Health Center (07:30 to 22:00 from Monday to Thursday, 07:30 to 12:00 on Friday, and 7:30 to 21:00 on Sunday)
- Al Towar Health Center
- Za’abeel Health Center
- Umm Suqeim Health Center
- Nad Al Sheba Health Center
While the Dubai Health Card is not compulsory if you and your child already have health insurance, it can save you from having to pay for vaccinations and immunisations.
With a one-year validity for expat children, all you need to do is renew the health card one month before the expiry date via the online portal of DHA.
To Conclude
Dubai has a brilliant healthcare system for families and expectant parents. Obtaining a health card in Dubai is extremely simple. If you are looking for more information, do not hesitate to get in touch with Dubai Health. The support is quick and easy.