Agreement discusses unification of medical tourism procedures for the Emirate of Dubai.

Streamlining procedures aimed to be beneficial for both medical tourists and healthcare entities in the Emirate

United Arab Emirates, Dubai, January 23, 2013: In a move to streamline the medical tourism initiative for the Emirate of Dubai, the Dubai Health Authority (DHA) and the General Directorate of Residence and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA) signed today an agreement to facilitate and support medical tourism in Dubai.

The agreement was signed at the GDRFA headquarters by Major-General Mohammad Ahmed Al Marri, Director General of the GDRFA and HE Engineer Essa Al Maidoor, Director-General of the Dubai Health Authority.

Al Marri said: "We are keen to extend our cooperation in this regard and the two entities will work together to provide high quality services to support and facilitate the medical tourism initiative in Dubai."

Al Marri added that the two entities have already extended their cooperation on a number of important medical issues such as overseas treatment and blood donation. The DHA blood donation site is located in the premises of the GDFRA and helps the authority collect additional units of blood.

Al Maidoor said: "This agreement with help both parties work together to ensure we strengthen this initiative and provide utmost convenience to overseas patients who are keen to visit Dubai for medical purposes."

He added that Dubai is the world's leading destination for tourism and leisure and since Dubai offers excellent healthcare facilities, medical tourism is an extension of the hospitality that Dubai is synonymous with.  He said: "Unification of policies and processes will ensure smooth functioning of a dynamic health sector and will benefit both medical tourists as well as the healthcare providers. Working with relevant stakeholders is a key requirement to ensure strengthening and seamless functioning of the initiative."

Laila Al Jassmi, CEO of Health Policy and Strategy at the DHA said that cooperation in the field of medical tourism is essential and will ensure that overseas patients are provided with convenience and ease from the time they apply for a visa to seek treatment in Dubai until they complete all medical procedures and return back to their home country.

The signing ceremony was attended by senior GDRFA officials including Brigadier-General Salah Saif Saeed Bin Saloum Al Falasi, Assistant Director General for residence and entry permits, Colonel Awad Mohammed Ghanem Saeed Al Owaaym Al Humairi, assistant-director for human resources and finance, Colonel Hussain Ibrahim, assistant director-general for seaports and senior officials from the DHA included Dr Ramadan Ibrahim, director of health regulation, Laila Al Jassmi, CEO of health policy and strategy, |Ghanim Lootah, acting-director of institutional marketing and communications, Dr Eldaw Sulaiman, head of research and performance management and Wafa Alnakhi, senior policy and strategy analyst.

© Press Release 2013