Qatar Mandates Health Insurance for Foreign Workers and Their Families

A senior Qatari official stated on Thursday that employers in the Gulf state will be required to provide health insurance for foreign workers and their families under a new law issued by the country's Emir. Qatar has a significant number of foreign workers, with Qataris constituting only ten percent of the country's population. Currently, foreign residents and visitors can access basic healthcare for free by paying a nominal fee for a government health card, and employers are not required to offer any additional private health insurance for their workers. The Qatari Ministry of Public Health announced on Wednesday, "Based on the new law, a mandatory health insurance system will be applied for all expatriates in the state and visitors, providing them with basic healthcare services through healthcare providers in various public and private health facilities, according to their insurance coverage system." The law, published by the Qatari News Agency on Wednesday, will take effect six months after its publication in the official gazette. Authorities did not specify a reason for the move. The new law also requires all visitors to Qatar to purchase a health insurance plan that covers them while in the country, which will host the FIFA World Cup finals next year.