Dubai, UAE - Dubai Health Authority (DHA) and Royal Philips Electronics (NYSE: PHG, AEX: PHI) have today sealed a strategic partnership through the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding, making Philips the preferred partner in future projects which will be deployed by the DHA to elevate the level of healthcare services in the Gulf region. The first project resulting from the partnership is expected to be announced within two months.
"The Dubai Healthcare Authority is determined to continue improving the level of healthcare services it provides for its citizens," said Director General of DHA his excellence Qhadi Al Murooshed. "Like all prosperous countries our population will in the future be increasingly confronted with lifestyle-related chronic disease. While improving disease awareness and prevention we also realize we need to further strengthen our healthcare infrastructure to create one of the most advanced health systems in the world. Philips fits perfectly within this vision as Philips Healthcare combine human insight with clinical expertise to develop meaningful and relevant innovations that improve the access to healthcare and the quality of people's lives wherever they might be in the hospital or in the home.
Under the terms of the partnership, Philips has become the DHA's preferred partner and supplier of healthcare, lighting and consumer products and services for healthcare projects in particular. The agreement includes the possibility of further deployment of Philips products and services, and provides a framework for jointly developing and pursuing opportunities to further offer competitive solutions, participate in large healthcare projects and offer new services as well as new business models to deliver the highest quality healthcare designed around the needs of patients."
"We are proud to partner with the DHA and work with them to achieve positive change in healthcare for the future as this is one of the most pressing global issues of our time, said Louis Hakim, Vice President Royal Philips Electronics, CEO Philips Middle East."People are at the centre of everything we do. Whether they are the people receiving healthcare or providing it, Philips seeks their insights, learns what their unique needs actually are and creates solutions specific to their situation. As a company we empower people to improve their health and wellbeing at every stage of the care cycle, from prevention and screening to diagnosis, treatment, monitoring and management. Through this partnership and our creative insights and clinical expertise we are able to look beyond the traditional areas of diagnosis and treatment to help medical professionals improve patient outcomes and.increase the level of health and wellbeing in Dubai and the Gulf region at large.
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About Royal Philips Electronics
Royal Philips Electronics of the Netherlands (NYSE: PHG, AEX: PHI) is a global leader in healthcare, lighting and consumer lifestyle, delivering people-centric, innovative products, services and solutions through the brand promise of "sense and simplicity". Headquartered in the Netherlands, Philips employs approximately 134,200 employees in more than 60 countries worldwide. With sales of EUR 27 billion in 2007, the company is a market leader in medical diagnostic imaging and patient monitoring systems, energy efficient lighting solutions, as well as lifestyle solutions for personal wellbeing. News from Philips is located at www.philips.com/newscenter.
About Dubai Health Authority
Dubai Health Authority created by Law issued by the Ruler of Dubai in June 2007.
The Dubai Health Authority (DHA) has been empowered to set policy and strategy for health, and to assure the application of that health policy and strategy. The DHA leads an integrated approach across the spectrum of health, anticipating Dubai's future needs and being responsive to users. It will stimulate growth and innovation in the health market, ensuring value for money and quality of services through effective regulation.
The DHA implementation will be undertaken in phases and will take around four years to complete (2012). In the meantime the Department of Health and Medical Services (DoHMS) continues to provide day-to-day medical services.
His Excellency Qadhi Saeed Al Murooshid has been appointed Director General of the emergent DHA. He is the only official spokesperson who can comment on behalf of the DHA.
The new Dubai Health Authority (DHA) structure will ensure that health services are better positioned to meet the demand for better healthcare services in the future.
The DHA will work to:
- Provide a Health Strategy for Dubai that will meet the needs of the predicted growth and change in population
- Ensure Public Health is protected and quality of life improved
- Ensure partnership between public and private health service providers, bringing together the best international experience to ensure we deliver the best health system possible
- Achieve international accreditation of healthcare services delivered across the Emirate by ensuring world-class quality and standards of healthcare
- Ensure effective regulation and licensing across the Dubai Health Sector guaranteeing the quality of health services provided
- Increase the transparency and accountability of the healthcare system
- Drive efficiency so that funding is spent on the most effective healthcare for those who need it
- Improve accessibility to the healthcare system and sustainability for the future
- Deliver the best training and education opportunities for Dubai healthcare practitioners
DHA Health Funding: The DHA transition team is working closely with the Executive Council (TEC) on all future financing arrangements. Further announcements on the details of the health funding program will be made in due course.
DHA Health Regulation: Will implement DHA regulatory policy across the public and private health sector in Dubai. Further announcements on the details of the DHA health regulation will be made in due course. Access to the DHA website can be made at www.dha.gov.ae.
Anyone interested in becoming part of the DHA Online Community should log onto the following link: http://www.dhacommunity.com/dha/invite.aspx. Alternatively access can be made via the DHA website.
The Vision for the DHA:
"The health vision for Dubai is delivered by 2012 by the competent, confident and sustainable set of suppliers, regulators and service providers that make up the health system"
The Mission of the DHA:
"The DHA is the Authority empowered to set policy and strategy for health and to assure application of policy and strategy. It leads an integrated approach across the spectrum of health, anticipating future needs and being responsive to users. It will stimulate growth and innovation in the health market, ensuring value for money and quality of services through effective regulation"
For further information, please contact:
Galia Rizk
Philips Healthcare
Tel: + 971 4 43 62 511
Email: galia.rizk@philips.com
Mark Groves
Philips Healthcare
Tel: +31 653 179 850
Email: mark.groves@philips.com
© Press Release 2008
