Dubai, United Arab Emirates, May 24, 2017

The Dubai Health Authority (DHA) signed today a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Korea Health Industry Development Institute to explore various avenues of collaboration in the health sector.

H.E. Humaid Al Qatami, Chairman of the Board and Director-General of the DHA and H.E. Dr. Lee Young Chan, President of Korea Health Industry Development Institute signed today a MoU on the sidelines of the DHA Transformation Forum.

Al Qatami highlighted the importance of knowledge sharing and collaboration in today’s globalized world and highlighted the positive impact such collaborations have on patient care and on the growth of the overall health sector.

The two sides will collaborate in healthcare services including medical tourism, technology, best practises and medical education.

The DHA also highlighted its achievements in its effort to implement the Dubai Health Strategy by 2021.

The strategy has 15 programs and 96 initiatives that fall under these programs and the initiatives are divided into three waves: immediate, medium and long-term.

Al Qatami highlighted that the aim of the Authority is to ensure smooth implementation of the strategy and to see its successful completion by 2021.

Some of the achievements of the implementation of the strategy include the successful rollout of the mandatory health insurance scheme in Dubai. Presently more than 99 per cent of those with Dubai visas (approximately 4.3 million people) now have access to mandatory health insurance.

Other achievements include the completion and approval of the mental health strategy and the go-live of the Dubai Health Authority's (DHA) unified electronic medical record system known as Salama.  In April 2017, Rashid Hospital, Barsha Health Center, Airport Medical Center, Dermatology Center and Dubai Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation Center went live with the Salama project and more than 1.4 million DHA patient medical records and over 12 million transactions were transferred to the Salama system.

The project is in line with the DHA’s smart health initiatives and is an important part of the Authority’s health strategy.

Some of the key features of the strategy is the focus on prevention and healthy lifestyle, public health and safety, primary care, chronic disease management, private and public partnership and investment, improve governance of the health sector and medical tourism.

The fifteen programs of the strategy are:

  • Care model innovation

  • Prevention and healthy lifestyle

  • Primary care

  • Dental care

  • Mental and behavioral disorders

  • Medical tourism

  • Chronic disease management

  • Excellence, quality and patient experience

  • Centres of excellence including clinical research

  • Workforce and medical education

  • Governance

  • Data and technology( medical informatics)

  • Insurance and health financing

  • PPP and investment

The updated strategy aligns with Dubai strategic plan 2021, the national UAE plan, key stakeholders as well as addresses evolving external environment matters.

-Ends-

For further information, please contact:
Mahmoud Al Ali 
Head of Media
Dubai Health Authority 
myalali@dha.gov.ae
+9714 219 7260

Kamakshi Gupta and Noor Nazzal
Communications Analysts- Media Dept.
Dubai Health Authority 
Klgupta@dha.gov.ae  
NNNazzal@dha.gov.ae
+9714 2197455

About the Dubai Health Authority: 
The Dubai Health Authority (DHA) was created, in June 2007, by Law 13 issued by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE, Ruler of Dubai, with an expanded vision to include strategic oversight for the complete health sector in Dubai and enhance private sector engagement. His Highness Sheikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai and UAE Minister of Finance is the President of the Dubai Health Authority and His Excellency Humaid Al Qatami is the Chairman of the Board and Director-General of the Dubai Health Authority.

The DHA’s aim in Dubai is to provide an accessible, effective and integrated healthcare system, protect public health and improve the quality of life within the Emirate. This is a direct translation of the objectives of the Dubai Strategic Plan 2015 launched by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum. Keeping the strategic plan in mind, the DHA’s mission is to ensure access to health services, maintain and improve the quality of these services, improve the health status of nationals, residents and visitors and oversee a dynamic, efficient and innovative health sector.

In addition to overseeing the health sector for the Emirate of Dubai, the DHA also focuses on providing services through DHA healthcare facilities including hospitals (Latifa, Dubai, Rashid and Hatta), specialty centres (e.g. the Dubai Diabetes Center) and DHA primary health centres spread throughout the Emirate of Dubai.

The main pillars of service delivery at DHA health facilities are quality, efficiency, patients and staff.  It is our aim to maintain and improve the quality and efficiency of DHA health services. An important aspect of the service delivery strategy is to focus on patients, their needs and satisfaction as well as attract, retain, nurture and support outstanding staff.

Prior to the establishment of the DHA, the Department of Health and Medical Services (DOHMS), which was established in 1973, was the functioning authority that almost exclusively focused on health service delivery.

© Press Release 2017