Why this matters before day one
In the Gulf’s premium sector, malpractice cover is not a box to tick—it defines your risk, scope and stability. Packages vary across private hospitals, clinics, and UHNWI/home-care settings. Read the policy detail before you accept an offer so privileges, scope and cover align.
Core policy types
Facility policy (employer-provided): Most private hospitals/clinics add you as a named clinician under the institution’s policy.
Personal indemnity policy: Occasionally required for home-care/UHNWI work or when your scope extends beyond standard facility cover (e.g., domiciliary visits, yacht assignments).
Occurrence vs claims-made:
Occurrence: covers incidents that occur during the policy period—simpler when changing jobs.
Claims-made: covers claims reported while the policy is active; you’ll need tail (run-off) cover when leaving.
Coverage you should expect (signals, not guarantees)
Limits: clear per-claim and aggregate limits in AED/SAR/QAR (or USD).
Scope: matches your privileges (e.g., procedures, devices, meds).
Settings: hospital, clinic, home/hotel, and in-transit care (if relevant).
Extensions: telemedicine, cross-border consults, supervision/proctoring, student teaching.
Exclusions: experimental treatments, cosmetic procedures beyond privileges, advice outside the licensed jurisdiction.
Who pays—and common structures
Employer-paid in most hospitals/clinics for your contractual scope.
Top-ups/personal policies may be needed for concierge or UHNWI assignments (home, hotel, yacht) or if you moonlight in a permitted secondary facility.
Proof of cover: ask for a certificate of insurance naming you and your scope/limits.
Alignment that prevents claim disputes
Contract title ↔ regulator category ↔ privileging list ↔ policy schedule.
If your privileges expand, request a policy endorsement the same week.
Keep procedure logs and competency sign-offs—insurers and committees look at evidence, not assumptions.
Moving jobs without gaps (claims-made reality)
If the current role is claims-made, secure tail/run-off before your last day (agree who pays).
If the new employer provides occurrence cover, tail still protects your past exposure.
Keep copies of incident reports and learning summaries—do not transfer patient identifiers.
UHNWI & home-care nuance
Confirm domiciliary cover and travel between sites (hotel, residence, yacht).
Clarify medication safety responsibilities (storage, transport) and documentation standards in private settings.
Agree on-call/escalation protocols in writing—insurers favor clear chains of command.
Quick negotiation points (professional, realistic)
Add policy endorsement language for your specific unit/procedures.
If claims-made, include tail coverage responsibility in the offer letter.
Request the COI (certificate of insurance) with your name and limits before start.
If doing home-care/concierge under the same employer, confirm it’s within the same policy (or add a rider).
Common pitfalls—and calm fixes
Privileges outpace policy → ask for immediate endorsement; pause new scope until confirmed.
Assuming home-care is covered → check the schedule; add a home-care rider if needed.
Forgetting tail on exit → diarise 30 days before leaving; get written proof of run-off.
No evidence of coverage → request the COI; keep a PDF in your credentialing file.
Ready-to-use checklist (copy/paste)
Before signing
Contract title and regulator category match
Privileging list drafted and agreed
Policy type (occurrence/claims-made) confirmed
Per-claim and aggregate limits documented
Settings covered (hospital/clinic + home/hotel/yacht if relevant)
Exclusions reviewed (cosmetic/experimental/telemedicine)
COI naming me + scope/limits requested
If claims-made
Tail responsibility clarified (who pays; duration)
Trigger/retroactive date checked
If UHNWI/concierge
Home-care rider in place
Escalation/on-call protocol attached to contract