Management course tailored for region

A health services management course targeting Gulf nationals will begin next year as part of a move to decrease dependence on foreign healthcare expertise, according to an international hospital management organisation representative.

Prof Per Gunnar Svensson, director-general of the International Hospital Federation, told Gulf News the master's degree programme would be available to nationals from GCC countries starting in Spring 2006.

He said the course would be certified by an established medical university and accredited by the French-based international organisation, and supported by the health services department of the country.

Though there are hospital management and health services courses available in universities worldwide, there is no curriculum especially designed for hospital and health services management for the Gulf countries.

"This means that for the first time, Gulf countries would have an accredited curriculum provided as a long- term initiative towards an academy in hospital management," Prof Svensson added.

He said the IHF was looking at universities in Australia, the United Kingdom and Europe to manage the post-graduate programmes.