A committee has been set up by the Dubai Health Authority to work towards further development of the healthcare sector in the emirate.

It comprises high-ranking professionals from the private and public health sector and aims to device plans and policies that will raise the service delivery and overall functioning of the health sector in Dubai.

Essa Al Maidoor, director-general of DHA, who heads the committee, said: “We consider the private sector to be our partners and not our competitors in the race for excellence. Our aim is to ensure we deliver the best healthcare service for the emirate, regardless of who delivers this service. To fulfil this vision, private and public sector collaboration is essential.”

Dr Ramadan Ibrahim, director of Health Regulation and chairperson of this committee, said: “The task force presently has three strategic goals - improving customer satisfaction, encouraging healthcare investment in private sector, streamlining and consolidating procedures for healthcare entities starting new facilities in the emirate. We are working together to discuss action points that will help us achieve these goals.”

He pointed out that the task force will gain more significance as the authority moves to implement significant healthcare initiatives such as the electronic medical records for Dubai and the mandatory health insurance.

The task-force has recommended several initiatives to accomplish its three central goals that revolve around customer satisfaction and providing an impetus for healthcare investment, Dr Ibrahim added.

To boost investment in healthcare, some of the recommendations include a single-window service to help prospective investors have access with representatives from regulation, planning and funding departments so that they can be provided with quick answers and solutions, particularly for projects with high financial or strategic value. - TradeArabia News Service