United Arab Emirates, Dubai, September, 25, 2013: The DHA recently participated in a WHO meeting that was held in Geneva to discuss global initiatives on radiation safety in healthcare settings.

Several representatives from international societies, scientific committees and healthcare entities attended this radiation safety meeting that was held to discuss ways to protect  the public, patients and healthcare professionals from unnecessary  radiation exposure due to diagnostic, imaging or therapeutic purposes.

Dr Jamila Suwaidi, Consultant Medical Physicist and Chairperson of Radiation Protection Committee at the DHA said: "Medical exposure of ironizing radiation  is considered to be the largest man-made radiation source and it has biological effects, if the radiation protection principles are not correctly applied in medicine. Therefore, this meeting is of significant important to discuss at a global level ways to ensure safety in radiation used for medical purposes."

Dr Jamila said that DHA participation in the WHO meeting highlighted the radiation safety procedures undertaken at the DHA which is at par with international standards.

She further elaborated and said: " Within the DHA, we have programmes for radiology quality control. We also conduct education and training in radiation and safety, and this is an on-going initiative that takes place from time-to-time."

Dr Jamila said that it is important for both patients and healthcare providers to be aware of radiation safety and this culture should be adopted through awareness and training programs. "Patients should follow the rules and make sure they wear protective gear, pregnant women should always mention that they are pregnant before undergoing any procedure which involves radiation exposure. These are basic precautions, that all patients must undergo and this is possible only once they understand the importance of radiation safety."

She added that last year, DHA also took part in a radiation safety congress in Germany .

Laila Al Balooshi, Senior Medical Physicist, participated in the German congress and  presented a paper on the radiation exposure levels within the DHA.  She said: "Our radiation levels are within the accepted levels of international standards, in fact, for some radiological examinations, they were lower than internationally accepted standards. These procedures include dental radiology practise within the DHA."

Dr Suwaidi added that in this year's congress one of the recommendations was to adopt a radiology referral guideline.

She added that the DHA will continue its on-going efforts to keep radiation levels within international limits and educate both patients and healthcare professionals about radiation safety.

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 Engineer Essa Al Maidoor is the Director-General of the 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 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 2013