Dubai Healthcare City Authority (DHCA) and Dubai Health Authority (DHA) today (January 20) announced a partnership to strengthen the health sector in the emirate.

The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was recently signed by Humaid Al Qatami, chairman of the Board and director-general of DHA and Dr Raja Al Gurg, vice-chairperson and executive director of DHCA.

According to the scope, the authorities will enhance healthcare services for local and foreign patients, thus supporting and boosting the health and education sectors, identified as national priority sectors in the seven-year UAE National Agenda, leading to the UAE Vision 2021.

DHCA and DHA will work together to integrate health policies and procedures towards health provision and collaborate on increasing access to services such as medical fitness centres, and mandatory health insurance.

The partnership will create synergy in licensing standards for healthcare professionals and healthcare operators.

“Dubai Health Authority is keen on strategic partnerships and is ready to open its doors to collaborate with stakeholders and other organizations to develop Dubai’s health system,” said Al Qatami, emphasizing that DHCA is one of its main partners and plays an important role to achieve its directives.

“The agreement focuses on maximizing benefits for both and fostering knowledge exchange from policies and regulations to harnessing healthcare expertise, he explained. “Our combined objective represents a unified vision and our aspirations to make Dubai and its health system a globally recognized model.”

The partnership will advance medical education and develop a qualified healthcare workforce through cooperation in programs for Continuing Professional Development (CPD) and medical research.

Dr Al Gurg said: “Shaping the future of the emirate’s health system is a commitment we have as Dubai Healthcare City Authority. Developing the right mechanism for a health system requires planning and foresight as well as sound policymaking. The health agenda for the emirate of Dubai has to move beyond the provision of specialized healthcare, and include measures towards influencing the health status of each and every individual who calls Dubai their home.”

“DHCA aims to improve the performance of the health system as well as the governance so we can meet the medical needs and demands of our patients here in Dubai and visitors who seek the best medical care,” she added. – TradeArabia News Service