Insurance cover sought for diabetes surgery - gulfnews.com

Dubai: The first approved surgery to cure diabetes in the UAE raises the question of affordability given that the current health insurance policies do not cover the surgery cost which could be in excess of Dh70,000.

The International Modern Hospital is the only hospital to have approval from the Dubai Health Authority (DHA) to perform this surgery. Depending on the type of patient — obese and non-obese — various surgical options are evaluated.

When Gulf News checked with health insurance companies, two facts came to light. The sleeve gastrectomy surgery is an option for obese patients, but isn't covered by insurance as it is considered a cosmetic procedure.

Second, patients who disclose their diabetic condition have a limited cover depending on how chronic the patient is. Now that the surgery has approval by the DHA under diabetic condition, it presents a stronger case.

In the UAE, which is among the top five countries in the world with a high population of diabetics, many patients will want to opt for a permanent solution instead of depending on medication to keep diabetes under control.

Dr R. Padmakumar, Specialist Surgeon at the hospital, told Gulf News: "The procedure isn't covered by insurance right now, but we will approach insurance companies with the new approval. If a government body has accepted it, why shouldn't it be covered? Diabetic patients spend more than Dh3,000 a year on medication, plus more if there are complications. Now they have an option to live a life free of diabetes. In fact, if health insurance covers, people from other countries too can benefit."

This will have a knock-on benefit for the country, he added. "The population will be healthy with reduced health issues including cardiac."

Of the diabetic surgery Dr Padmakumar said: "We can perform surgeries on Type 2 diabetic patients irrespective of their BMI (Body Mass Index). If the patient has a high BMI, we would perform the laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy, and if low BMI [non-obese], ileal transposition and sleeve gastrectomy. Because these are minimally invasive procedures, there is reduced recovery time. Further, in obese patients the surgery helps [cure] sleep apnoea, heart disease and hypertension. These surgeries have been practised widely during the past few years with patients reporting a more than 90 per cent success rate."

Gulf News also spoke to Dr Rohit Kumar, Specialist General Surgeon at the hospital, who said he hopes UAE patients benefit from the surgery. "We have performed a few surgeries, and patients have had more than 90 per cent remission, and have been able to lead normal lives."

Great help

M.K., a Dubai-based housewife and mother of two, was diagnosed with diabetes four years ago. She underwent sleeve gastrectomy surgery at the hospital two months ago. She told Gulf News: "The surgery is a miracle. I was also obese and have lost more than 10 kilos. I have stopped my medication and feel fine now. Sadly, any treatment related to diabetes isn't covered by health insurance. It would be of great help to patients if at least surgeries for diabetes are covered."

Mohammad Ahmad Qadri, a businessman in Dubai, has been diabetic for 20 years and was insulin dependent. "Since my surgery at the hospital last month, I haven't been on any medication."