The Dubai Health Authority has revealed plans to substitute the National ID card for the insurance card for all residents by end of 2016.The shift will happen throughout 2016, Dr Haidar Al Yousuf, Director of health funding at DHA, told Gulf News."As of now only National Identity cards for Emiratis under Sa'ada and Enaya can be electronically read for insurance cover. This year all residents will have this facility extended to them. We are asking insurance companies to comply."Dr Al Yousuf gave a projection of different health care projects that are underway for 2016, which includes the completion of mandatory health insurance cover for all by June 30, 2016. "Companies in Phase One and Two have already complied since implementation started in 2014. Many others in Phase 3, too, have begun complying.Earlier this year, officials welcomed the plans."Adopting the Emirates ID as an alternative for insurance cards is a major step towards simplifying the process of accessing medical services," Dr Michael Bitzer, chief executive of Daman National Health Insurance told The National.Dr Saeed Al Ghafli, director general of the Emirates Identity Authority, said that more card readers would be installed in hospitals and other public buildings soon.

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