Dubai: In line with the Year of Zayed, the Dubai Health Authority (DHA) has launched the Ataa’ wa Saa’da (Giving and Happiness) initiative, which aims to support patients with limited means (financially, psychologically and socially) in partnership with the private sector.
As part of the initiative, the DHA will be collaborating with six private health facilities whom have allocated Dh30 million budget annually to provide free and discounted treatments for patients of limited means.
Humaid Mohammad Obaid Al Qutami, chairman of the Board and director-general of the DHA, said the initiative is part of the culture of giving instilled by Shaikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan; President His Highness Shaikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan; His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai; and His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces.
Al Qutami said the authority was keen to extend its partnerships with the private health sector to implement this humanitarian cause during the Year of Zayed through the initiative, which reflects the noble humanistic concepts that characterise the UAE society from other societies.
Al Qutami commended the private hospitals who have responded positively to achieving the objectives of the initiative, which aims to support patients with limited means, support them and alleviate the pain and burden on their shoulders and their families.
This is also consistent with the directions of the DHA and its strategic objectives aimed at reaching a healthier and happier society.
Dr Marwan Al Mulla, director of Health Regulation at DHA, on the other hand, said the DHA succeeded in utilising its partnerships with six private health facilities, which will be offering free and discounted treatment to patients with limited means. He added that there are plans to increase the number of collaborating hospitals.
Dr Al Mulla said that a number of meetings were held with private health facilities, who will be taking part in the initiative, which will be implemented in partnership with the Community and Humanitarian Services Office at DHA.
Dr Al Mulla added that the authority will be holding a number of meetings in the next phase to add to the list of private health care facilities taking part in the initiative, especially following the keenness of many private health facilities to join in helping those with limited means by providing treatment free of charge.
