In line with law No. 6 of 2018 issued by His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, DHA held a workshop today to discuss the implementation of the new Dubai Health Authority law.
The new law further enables DHA to achieve its objectives, including regulating medical services in Dubai, enhancing competitiveness and transparency, improving medical services and products based on international best practices and achieving the sector’s objectives according to approved strategic plans.
Positivity matters
His Excellency Humaid Al Qutami, Chairman of the Board and Director General of DHA, addressed top-level DHA executives at the workshop, titled strategy and transformational change, highlighting that teamwork and positivity are important to successfully implement the new law and its objectives.
Al Qutami highlighted that the organisational structure of the authority will be changed gradually and the process of transformation will include new structural framework for DHA health entities.
The law mandates DHA to supervise and inspect health facilities and health professionals in the emirate and includes the private sector, free zones and Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) to ensure uniformity and compliance with standards.
The law includes areas of medical education such as provision of medical education services, promoting research and development in cooperation with relevant stakeholders.
The new law authorises DHA to regulate and approve the prices of health services provided by the private health facilities in the emirate, in coordination with the concerned authorities, and issue decisions regarding the pricing of health services provided by the authority and its affiliated institutions in coordination with the department.
To ensure the provision of appropriate health services across various segments of society at reasonable prices through the establishment, the management and operation of an integrated health information system will be done in accordance with international health and medical standards, in partnership with the private sector.
New legislation
In accordance with the law, the authority shall study and propose draft legislation governing the health sector, submit recommendations to update and develop it to the competent authorities in Dubai, and provide medical and occupational health examination services in the emirate, including special development zones and free zones, including DIFC.
During the workshop, Al Qutami expressed his special thanks and appreciation to all those who contributed to the strengthening of the health sector from the beginning — especially doctors, technicians, nursing staff and administrators.
He added that the authority will hold specialised workshops for onboarding so that employees are able to understand the nuances of the law. The workshops will also help provide a platform for open and constructive dialogue as well as define scope of work and responsibility to help achieve the needful tasks.
Al Qutami explained the five important elements to achieve success with the implementation of the new law: public interest must prevail and patient interest is a priority; teamwork and a positive outlook; transformative change and development is inevitable to further uplift the health sector; a one-team approach with the focus on consistency and compatibility as well as respect for the system and others; and the need to work with flexibility rather than in a stereotypical manner.
The director general highlighted that the transformation will help further uplift the health sector and establish the emirate as one of the leading medical tourism destinations in the world.
