UAE | Health

Dubai Health Authority: medical tourism a priority

Dubai Health Authority instrumental in health care

Carolina D’Souza, Staff Reporter
Published: 13:35 November 21, 2012

Image Credit: Pankaj Sharma/Gulf News Archives
The Dubai Health Authority has been at the forefront in developing and implementing health care plans.

Dubai

The Dubai Health Authority (DHA) has been instrumental in developing and implementing plans, policies and legislation towards health care in Dubai.

Ahead of National Day, Gulf News profiles the authority and highlights its role.

Currently, the Authority has more than 15 primary health care centres (PHCs) with plans to expand.

In addition to building new facilities, one of its goals is to strengthen its medical tourism initiative which is line with the instructions of Shaikh Hamdan Bin Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai.

With a newly appointed director general at the helm, the DHA will continue to work with stakeholders — public and private health sector, and government authorities — towards its medical tourism initiative.

Speaking to Gulf News, Eisa Al Haj Al Maidour, director general, said that the global revenues from medical tourism are estimated at $30 billion and Dubai is well positioned to take a share of this market.

“The growth of medical tourism will positively impact the economy and be a driver for trade and investment in healthcare, tourism and hospitality services.

“We promote medical tourism through quality control, licensing, and accreditation. We want to gain trust — we cannot do this without rules, regulations, supervision, follow ups, and expansion,” he said.

The DHA with its stakeholders aims for a unified medical tourism strategy, he added.

In the past few years, the DHA has undertaken several key projects.

The 123 bed multi-specialIty Hatta hospital was inaugurated in 2010, and caters to a population of 40,000 people. Last year, the DHA opened Al Mizhar and Nad Al Hamar health centres, and the Al Barsha Health Centre which will be inaugurated shortly.

This year the Authority launched three new blood donation sites in Al Mankhool, Nad Al HamMar, and Deira operating from existing primary health care centres and/or hospitals under the Dubai Health Authority.

The Authority’s new projects will continue to improve geographical access, strengthen primary health care and provide specialised care.

A significant milestone for the UAE will be the Al Jalila Children’s Specialty Hospital. As per the instructions of His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, the new hospital will be a gift to the children of the UAE and the region.

The first-of-its-kind facility will offer super-speciality and multi-spectrum paediatric care including oncology care, nephrology, cardiac care, neo-natal care, among others. Spread over 98,000 sq m it will be located in the premises of Latifa Hospital.