Dubai hospital shut down for 'violating medical practices'

Health authority closes down private hospital for three months in interest of public safety

Respiratory conditions, circulatory disease and endocrine illnesses are the top three health risk factors pushing up medical bills in the Middle East and North Africa.

A private hospital in Dubai has been temporarily shut down for not complying with medical standards and regulations, the emirate's health authority said on Saturday.

DHA did not identify the hospital but said it would remain closed for three months after a series of inspections and field visits found that breaches of medical practices by the centre had repeatedly put the public at risk.

The authority said the hospital did not meet health and safety standards or comply with regulatory health policies, which affected the level of service provided to patients in operating rooms and inpatients.

Following an investigation, the medical practice committee at DHA decided that a temporary closure of all the hospital's departments and operating rooms, as a precautionary measure, would be the best course of action.

However, outpatient clinics remain open and, although the hospital is not allowed to accept new patients, it will be allowed to continue the treatment of existing patients.

The hospital will be re-evaluated in three months to ensure all recommendations and observations noted in the investigation report are met.

In a statement, the authority said it "will not tolerate any law violations and will take actions against those do not work within the framework of responsible medical practice".