Dubai Court Orders Worker and Employer to Jointly Pay Dh25,000 Hospital Bill

The Dubai Civil Court of First Instance has ruled that a worker and his employer must jointly pay Dh25,419 to a private hospital to cover medical expenses incurred during treatment for workplace injuries.|

The dispute arose after the hospital filed a case seeking recovery of unpaid treatment costs for a worker who had sustained a dislocated right hip and a deep hand injury while performing his job duties.

According to case documents, the hospital provided medical care until the patient’s condition stabilised. It later sought Dh31,000 plus legal interest, arguing that the worker had signed a payment undertaking but left the hospital without settling the bill.

The hospital submitted supporting evidence, including the admission form, medical reports, the signed undertaking and a detailed invoice. Despite being duly notified, neither the worker nor the employer attended
court hearings.

The court appointed an accounting expert to examine the claim. The expert report found that the actual cost of treatment amounted to Dh25,419, lower than the amount claimed by the hospital. The discrepancy was not explained.

The report also noted that the worker was under the sponsorship of the defendant company, which had failed to provide mandatory health insurance. It further stated that the treatment did not qualify as an emergency, meaning the hospital was entitled to charge for services rendered.

On this basis, the court held both the employee, as the recipient of treatment, and the employer, for failing to secure health insurance coverage, jointly responsible for the payment.

The court ruled that Dh25,419 must be paid, along with 5 per cent annual legal interest from the date of filing the claim until full settlement. The defendants were also ordered to bear all court fees, expenses and legal costs.

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