The DHA in cooperation with JDC is in the process of establishing a Unified concept and protocol system for all DHA primary healthcare clinics, JDC and hospitals to manage and treat diabetes

Roadmap to tackle this condition to be established.

DHA to establish stronger referral system, promote advanced education in diabetes and ensure protocols are followed across the board to treat diabetes.

DHA to expand diabetes treatment centres across Dubai to cover different areas and reach out to the community.

Dubai, 1 November, 2009:  The Dubai Health Authority is in the process of bringing 100 years of experience in diabetic care to the Emirate of Dubai.

The world-renowned Joslin Diabetes centre in Boston, known for its frontline treatment in diabetes and diabetes management, is in the process of expanding the service it provides to Dubai.

A high-level delegation from the Dubai Health Authority headed by His Excellency Qadhi Saeed Al Murooshid, Director General of the DHA met with Dr Kenneth Quickel, President and CEO of the JDC in Boston and the higher management of JDC to discuss ways to widen the scope of work that the two organisations have jointly undertaken.

Presently, the affiliation with the Harvard Affiliated - Joslin Diabetes Centre (JDC), has ensured that over the last five months, since the JDC has opened its doors in Dubai, over 1000 diabetes and pre-diabetics have received top-of-the-line multidisciplinary treatment to tackle their condition.  

The JDC centre in Dubai has four U.S.-board certified endocrinologists, seven diabetes educators, a podiatrist, a physiotherapist and a mental health counsellor.

Taking this association one step forward, it is the vision of His Excellency Qadhi Saeed Al Murooshid to establish a unified concept and protocol system for treating diabetes across the DHA primary healthcare centres and hospitals.  

Al Murooshid said, “The DHA is in the process of identifying methods to establish a strong unified system across primary healthcare centres to treat and manage diabetes. This is vital to increase efficiency and detect diabetes in its early stages, before it causes several health complications, and primary healthcare centres play a crucial role to achieve this level of competency.  

“Presently, the DHA is in the process defining a roadmap to ensure that we establish common practises of treating diabetes across all DHA hospitals and clinics. This will ensure standardized  protocols are followed, we are also looking at building stronger referral systems, establish a better  diabetes database and promote advanced education in diabetes care and management.” 

His Excellency Al Murooshid highlighted the importance of training doctors at various levels in diabetes management.  “Training our primary healthcare doctors in diabetes management is a crucial step for us and the DHA strongly emphasises on more training initiatives. We also understand the need to reach out to our community and are working to set up clinics across different areas of Dubai that provide diabetes treatment.” 

In order to achieve this, His Excellency said that the DHA is in the process of further strengthening its relationship with the JDC. The DHA is coordinating with the JDC to establish various processes which include community outreach programs and other initiatives to combat this condition, which has a high prevalence in the region.

Presently the Jostin Diabetes Centre in Dubai features state-of-the-art treatment facilities for patients with diabetes and focuses on prevention, education, lifestyle management and podiatry, as well as early detection of complications for patients ages 18 and older.

The high-level delegation from the DHA that was in Boston to facilitate this cooperation with the JDC included Khalid Ahmed Al Sheikh Mubarak, CEO Shared Services Support Dr Essa Kazim, CEO, Health Policy and Strategy Sector, Mr Ali Mohamad Ebrahim Al Ali,  IT Director and  Mr Tony Batour Elzoghbi, Director of Governance and Internal Audit Department.

The delegation from JDC included Ms. Judith Eyres Goodwin, VP and Managing Director, strategic initiatives, JDC, Michael P Sullivan, Senior VP of development, Dr Antoine Kaldany, Director of International program, JDC.

-Ends-

The DHA:
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 our 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 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.

© Press Release 2009