DUBAI // A sweeping proposal to establish new health care standards could lead to the country's three main health regulators working together more closely. The project is also aimed at bolstering the UAE's international reputation in the field to the point that more patients from other countries travel to the UAE for treatment.
The Emirates Medical Association (EMA), the professional group comprising physicians, dentists and pharmacists that launched the proposal, is urging the Ministry of Health, the Dubai Health Authority and Health Authority - Abu Dhabi (HAAD) to begin formal talks on the idea. The EMA said the Ministry of Health and the Dubai authority have already agreed to participate in the scheme, and that it was negotiating with HAAD, which was unable to comment yesterday.
"This is important to implement the same standards among all the emirates because we want everyone to have access to the highest quality of health care," said Dr Humaid al Qutami, the Minister of Health. Presently the three authorities oversee health care in the various emirates, with the ministry having control over the Northern Emirates. The initiative aims to raise the standard of health care for nationals and non-nationals alike, as well as attract "medical tourists" from abroad.
Dr Ali al Numairy, the wpresident of the EMA, announced the initiative with representatives of the Ministry of Health and the Dubai authority at a press conference on Friday. "The changes are revolutionary in the medical service," he said. "We are a neutral body so we can bring everybody together." He said with the three organisations working together the UAE would develop an international reputation for health care.
"The hope is to all work together," said Dr Ali bin Shakar, undersecretary of the Ministry of Health. "Our strategy is to be one of the partners in the UAE. They have to be a part of our developing legislation, new regulation and even the improvement and upgrade of health services in the UAE." The quality of health care is uneven nationwide. Hospitals in the different emirates operate under different regulations and qualifications for doctors vary. Some patients travel to other emirates to receive the medical care they require.
Millions of dirhams would be also invested in upgrading health care and hospitals in Al Gharbia and Ras al Khaimah. Under the plan, the EMA would assume control of doctor licensing and accreditation. The Ministry of Health and the Dubai authority also have agreed to let the EMA lead continuing medical education programmes. The ministry is still negotiating the details, but the EMA hopes to implement the programmes in Dubai within three months.
"We are really hitting the four aspects of the health sector at the same time: single entry, health care outcomes, a regulation system and rolling out an insurance programme that his going to cover Dubai nationals and residents," said Dr Hedar Yousef from the DHA. He added that reforms happening in Dubai were groundbreaking and something that "in other systems is done over decades". Authorities across the Emirates have clamped down over the past year on medical professionals practising without appropriate qualifications and on hospitals engaging in unethical behaviour. Dubai announced its plan to consolidate licensing in August by combining 10 different agencies into a single regulatory scheme. In June, the Ministry of Health closed six clinics with unlicensed medical staff. In Abu Dhabi, 20 doctors were accused of malpractice, negligence or misconduct. The new regulatory scheme would not include nurses. This is not the first time attempts have been made to reconcile the three health authorities. In June, the Ministerial Council for Services approved creation of a health council that would co-ordinate all public and private health organisations. Such a national council would oversee health care across the UAE and make high-level policy decisions that would affect the entire country, effectively unifying the system. However, no policy changes have been announced yet. amcmeans@thenational.ae
