ABU DHABI // A law prohibiting private healthcare establishments from being opened before proper licences have been obtained has been passed by the President, Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed.
According to Al Ittihad, The National's Arabic sister publication, Law No 4 of 2015 requires those setting up private facilities to first seek licences from the relevant health authority.
It includes establishments operating in free zones.
The law also defines the health and technical requirements for private providers as well as licensing procedures for operation and management of health care facilities, as well as the duration of the licenses.
It states that managers of private health facilities must have the necessary qualifications detailed in the bylaws, accordingly to the type and nature of the private health facility.
The law prohibits owners of private healthcare establishments from closing the establishment down before obtaining the approval of the licensing health authority.
Those found to be in breach of the rules will be punished with no less than six months imprisonment, or fined no less than Dh100,000, or both.
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