Private hospitals of Abu Dhabi have been denied 40% cost increase in their charges. Hospitals claim that as a result they will be forced to use older equipments and cheaper drugs for the patients, which also put patients health at a risk.

After the negotiations between insurance companies, the Health Authority Abu Dhabi (HAAD), and the Ministry of Economy and Commerce, the hospitals were allowed to increase charges by only 7-10%. According to the hospital authorities, this increase is much lesser than actually needed in order to cover costs. The hospitals want full authority to claim back the full cost of treatment from insurance companies.

The hospital authorities have also stated that due to lack of funding, the hospitals will not be able to buy state-of-art equipment or the best drugs available in the market. To provide better medical care to the patients, hospitals are lobbying to get permission to increase their fees.