DUBAI // Medical trainees working without a licence have been fined and officially warned by regulators at Dubai Healthcare City under new measures to improve patient safety.
Inspectors have been visiting clinics and treatment centres in DHCC and are publishing a list of 118 violations and fines for the first time from April 1. Previously, fines were decided by a committee on a case by case basis.
The number of violations recorded in DHCC has increased almost six-fold, up from 13 in 2014 to 88 last year. Common violations included categories covering unlicensed employees (28 per cent), unlicensed services (22 per cent), unauthorised medical advertisements (16 per cent) and health and safety (9 per cent).
Dr Ramadan AlBlooshi, chief executive officer at DHCC regulations, said data-sharing will make the health profession in the free zone more transparent.
“While we have consistently educated clinical facilities on our quality and compliance standards since founding in 2002, we wanted patients to be more involved in their own care,” he said.
“By being transparent, we are empowering patients to play a proactive role in their safety, with accessible tools to identify violations.”
Offences included unlicenced workers and sick notes being issued without medical justification. One healthcare professional was fined Dh5,000 and warned for providing a consultation as a paediatric cardiologist when only licensed for adults.
Healthcare operators conducting activities or providing services before obtaining a Clinical Operating Permit can face fines of Dh25,000.
As Dubai’s population and health sector has grown, so has the number of rule breaches by clinicians and subsequent financial penalties.
That is likely to continue as the demand for hospital beds also grows.
By the end of last year, clinical services in the free zone increased by 28 per cent to 159 from 124 in 2014, while on-site inspections were up from 30 in 2014 to 152 last year.
An extra 919 healthcare professionals were granted licences in 2015, taking the total to 5,400 in DHCC, with the number of specialists increasing by 68 per cent to 152.
“This increase in violations is expected with the free zone’s expansion,” added Dr AlBlooshi, who said random inspections will continue.
“By putting such tools in place, we strive to reduce non-compliance and increase patient safety.”
nwebster@thenational.ae
