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• Visiting doctor regulations will help ensure highly qualified international experts visit health facilities in Dubai.
Dubai - The Dubai Health Authority (DHA) has issued clear regulations for licensing of visiting doctors to ensure patients in Dubai have access to highly qualified international health professionals.
The guidelines are applicable for all health facilities in Dubai, including private health facilities and free zone, excluding Dubai Healthcare City.
Earlier, visiting health professionals were required to complete licensing formalities required for full-time Dubai-based professionals that took longer time to process. The new requirements are strictly regulated but ensure licenses are issued on a fast-track basis to provide convenience for highly qualified visiting doctors.
Healthcare facilities in Dubai that want to invite visiting doctors will have to prove that a doctor of the same specialty is already working in the facility. "A doctor of the same specialty will have to accompany the visiting doctor, understand the case management plan and will have to provide follow-up care once the visiting doctor goes back to his country of practice. This is to ensure continuity of care after the visiting doctor returns to his country of practice because follow-up care is essential for the well-being of patients."
Only hospitals, day-care surgery centres, dental clinics, polyclinics and specialty clinics may host a visiting physician.
Healthcare facilities must submit an online application with complete details of the visiting doctor including valid registration/professional license from last country of work, valid board memberships, employment letter, good standing certificate that is valid for six months etc.
The maximum number of times a license can be renewed is three times in one year and the maximum duration for every visit is one month.
The authority will continue to carry out primary source verification (PSV) on the professionals as a form of background check. Moreover, only physicians who have a certain number of years of experience and have super-specializations will be given fast track licenses.
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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 Humaid Mohammed Obaid Al Qatami is the chairman of the board of the Dubai Health Authority.
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 2015
