30,000 individuals will be the first Thiqa members to benefit from accessing healthcare facilities using just their Emirates ID card this month. The figure is comprised of members whose health insurance policies are renewed between 1st and 30th November.

The new initiative will eventually benefit all Thiqa members, of which there are currently 833,000 in the UAE.

Dr. Saeed Abdullah bin Mutlaq Al Ghafli, Director-General of the Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship, FAIC, and Board Member of National Health Insurance Company – Daman, announced the figure on the first day of the company’s initiative to roll back physical card production, which was announced last week.

"The programme, which aims to enable Emirates ID to be the single document required to access healthcare services and other technologically advanced initiatives, is part of Daman’s support of the government efforts towards transitioning to smart services as well as its commitment to provide the innovative solutions to residents and the healthcare sector as a whole," he said.

He highlighted the importance and value of the cooperation between Daman and the Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship since 2015. The collaboration covers the verification of Emirates ID numbers in the health insurer’s database and the provision of 7,000 ID card readers for distribution within its UAE network.

The first day of implementation was marked by a tour of the main Thiqa branch in Abu Dhabi by the company’s senior management. The tour took place with Hamad Abdulla Al Mehyas, Chief Process Officer, Dr. Sven Rohte, Chief Commercial Officer, Ahmed Eid Al Neyadi, Director of Thiqa, and Rajesh Dhomse, Director of Sales Operations. They were shown the new processes and listened to customer feedback, with many users expressing appreciation for the practicality and convenience the change brings.