Dubai’s Essential Basic Plan for health insurance coverage widens to include mental health, alternative medicine

Dubai’s Essential Basic Plan for health insurance coverage widens to include mental health, alternative medicine

Dubai: The basic health insurance plan in Dubai will now cover mental health and alternative medicine treatments such as Ayurveda and Homoeopathy. Health care facilities which have received an intimation to this effect said the extension of the cover is especially welcome in the current pandemic climate, as it gives those from low-income groups access to affordable mental health and holistic medicine consulations. Doctors said the Essential Basic Plan (EBP), which covers blue-collar workers, domestic help, salon workers and others in the salary bracket of up to Dh4,000 per month, will be a game changer in health care. Dr V.L. Shyam, Medical Director of Dr Shyam's Ayurveda Centre, said, "Any treatment or therapy prescribed by a licensed Ayurveda practitioner and conducted by a licensed Ayurveda practitioner will now be covered in the basic package. Those that are excluded are treatments such as massage, aromatherapy and acupressure." Dr Shyam said with this, Ayurveda practice would get more inclusive in Dubai. "Ayurveda treatments no longer will be restricted to the privileged. It will be very cost-effective as Ayurveda has much to offer at the primary health care treatment level. For instance, Ayurvedic treatment for chronic sinusitis will cost something in the range