New structure for health care sector

Abu Dhabi: President His Highness Shaikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan has approved a law establishing the Federal Health Authority that will take over the executive responsibilities of the Ministry of Health. The ministry will now focus purely on legislation and regulation.

The new structure will make the nation's health care system more efficient and competitive and represents a key step in the government's strategy to ensure excellent medical care for all.

Federal Law No 13 for the year 2009, establishes the Federal Health Authority as an autonomous body with independent budget and legal status.

"Separating the legislative and executive roles of the health sector will guarantee the high quality levels of government medical services and competitiveness that we seek," said Dr Hanif Hassan, Minister of Health and the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the new Federal Health Authority.

"Its work will represent the priority status of health care for this government and its leadership."

The Federal Health Authority will take over responsibility for running hospitals and other health facilities, therapeutic services, medical research, and the development of specialised skills to meet the best international standards.

Cooperation

It will also concentrate on raising competitiveness, developing hospitals as accredited teaching facilities, and promoting cooperation and partnerships between public and private health care providers.

The authority will have its headquarters in Sharjah and may establish facilities inside and outside the country as directed by its board, which will be appointed by the Cabinet.

Commenting further on the new federal law, the minister said the new body represents a "great leap" in the journey towards better health care.

"By implementing the latest methods and techniques and working according to international best practice, the Federal Health Authority will enable our health sector to compete on local, regional and international levels," he said.

"We will immediately start to take all necessary measures to establish the Federal Health Authority and put quality health care at the forefront of our priorities, as dictated by the vision of Shaikh Khalifa and His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai."