Dubai Municipality becomes first local accreditation body in the UAE and fourth in the Middle-East to provide accreditation to laboratories
United Arab Emirates Dubai, 16 March, 2011: The Dubai Health Authority (DHA) signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) today with the Dubai Municipality to recognize the accreditation given by the municipality to laboratories in the Emirate of Dubai.
With the signing of this agreement, the Dubai Accreditation Centre (DAC) of the Dubai Municipality becomes the first internationally recognized local accreditation body for laboratories in the UAE and the fourth in the Middle East region.
The Dubai Accreditation Centre is a member of the ILAC (International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation) and thus the accreditation given by DAC to testing and calibration laboratories in the Emirate of Dubai, will be an internationally recognized accreditation.
The DHA Health Regulation Department will add the Dubai Accreditation Centre to the list of approved accreditation centres for laboratories in the Emirate of Dubai. The DAC will also be able to provide accreditations for laboratories outside of the UAE.
His Excellency Qadhi Saeed Al Murooshid, Director General of the Dubai Health Authority said, "The Dubai Accreditation Centre of the Dubai Municipality is the first internationally recognized local accreditation body for laboratories in the Emirate of Dubai. This is a great achievement because it provides the healthcare facilitates in Dubai with an option to get their laboratories accredited from a local body, which is a cost-saving and convenient option. At the DHA, we believe in providing high quality healthcare services to our stakeholders along with convenience and ease of service and thus recognizing local accreditation bodies is a step in this direction.
"This MoU is a reflection of the strategic partnership between the government departments and the DHA is keen to undertake such collaborations to enhance the quality of medical services in the Emirate of Dubai."
Engineer Hussain Nasser Lootah, Director General of Dubai Municipality said, "With the signing of the MoU, the Dubai Municipality aims to facilitate registered and licensed health establishments in the Emirate of Dubai to obtain internationally recognized accreditations for their laboratories from the Dubai Municipality. This MoU aims to enhance the quality of medical services in Dubai as well as achieve technical excellence. Accreditations are essential to ensure the service provided to the public is of high-quality and thus are an important tool for public welfare."
Lootah added that partnerships with the local authorities are a part of the strategic objective of the Dubai Government.
Dr Ramadan Ibrahim, Director of Health Regulation at the DHA said that this recognition makes it feasible for the laboratories in the Emirate of Dubai to approach a local accreditation body which is both cost-effective and ensures a lesser turn-around time.
Ibrahim said that in future the DHA will also recognize accreditations given by the municipality to hospitals, once the Dubai municipality fulfils all the required criteria for the same.
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The DHA:
The Dubai Health Authority (DHA) was created in June 2007, by Law 13 issued by His Highness Sheikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, UAE Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai As the strategic health authority for the Emirate of Dubai, the DHA is empowered to set policies and strategies for health and to assure the application of those health policies and strategies. His Excellency Qadhi Saeed Al Murooshid is the Director General of the Dubai Health Authority (DHA).
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 Mohammad 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 (Al Wasl, Dubai and Rashid), specialty centres (e.g. the Joslin 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/or 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 as well as attract, retain, nurture and support outstanding staff.
For more information, please contact
Kamakshi Gupta
Communications Analyst
Institutional Marketing and Communications Department
Dubai Health Authority
klgupta@dha.gov.ae
009714- 2197455
Dubai Municipality
Ismail Peedika Parambil
Senior Media Officer
Dubai Municipality
Tel: 04 206 4657
Fax: 04 2232188
P. O. Box 67
Dubai, U. A. E.
www. dm. gov. ae
© Press Release 2011
