Dubai: 27 January, 2009 - Dubai Healthcare City, a member of Tatweer, has announced several initiatives that represent major progress in transforming healthcare in the Middle East.
Speaking at a press conference at Arab Health, Senior Vice President of Dubai Healthcare City (DHCC), Dr. Ayesha Abdullah, outlined a number of milestones that have catapulted DHCC to the forefront of healthcare development. Dr. Ayesha also highlighted new initiatives that will further its commitment to high-quality healthcare, education, research and wellness.
Initiatives for 2009 include Harvard Medical School Dubai Centre's (HMSDC) CME educational session on diabetes, a significant threat to the Arab world. The UAE ranks second worldwide for this disease. In addition, HMSDC is developing a simulation centre which will offer a variety of mobile simulation-based courses for all levels of healthcare professionals.
To further support the development of regional healthcare professionals, Dubai Harvard Foundation for Medical Research (DHFMR) will provide a Science Writers and Journalists Fellowship Program in 2009, for the second consecutive year and also post-doctoral research fellowships based at Harvard, USA, to train scientists and researchers from the region. In addition, DHFMR is providing annual grants for two research teams under the Collaborative Research Center Programme.
Speaking at the press conference, Dr Ayesha Abdullah said: "A major priority for DHCC is the development of local and regional healthcare professionals, through medical education and research programs which focus on health issues relevant to the region.
"As an internationally recognized integrated destination for quality healthcare, medical education, research and wellness services, we have registered substantial progress in improving the quality of healthcare, while enabling the local and regional community to access our world class services."
DHCC has further developed TAQEEMTM, the region's first healthcare licensing examination center, to improve healthcare quality and implement best-medical practice. TAQEEM will develop and administer comprehensive examinations for healthcare professionals. The candidates passing these examinations will be eligible for licensure by DHCC and by other affiliated organizations in the UAE and other countries in the GCC. TAQEEM™'s examinations will include the General Medical Licensure Examination (the MLE-G), comparable to Step 3 of the USMLE®, the internationally recognized gold standard for medical licensing examination developed and administered by United States National Board of Medical Examiners (NBME®).
In highlighting the rapid progress to date, Dr. Ayesha showcased a range of achievements:
Major global brands are operating in DHCC including the Mayo Clinic, Harvard and Boston Universities, Moorfields Eye Hospital, the German Heart Centre, American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery Hospital, Novartis and Astra Zeneca.
The Centre for Healthcare Planning and Quality (CPQ) has begun implementing complimentary & alternative medicine (CAM) codes, developed by ABC Coding Solutions to regulate and measure the outcomes of CAM procedures within DHCC. This initiative is unique to this part of the world.
DHCC strategic partner Boston University Dubai became the first and only private dental post-graduate institute in the Middle East to have a full spectrum of academic programs in five specialties accredited by the UAE Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research which began accepting postgraduate students from 2008.
University Hospital, the centerpiece of DHCC's Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Academic Medical Centre, signed a seven year partnership with Epic Systems Corporation, developers of one of the most advanced clinical systems available worldwide. The hospital is establishing a Center of Excellence for Nursing & Career Advancement' built around the Magnet principles, the first of its kind in the Middle East.
A number of new, high-quality healthcare providers have joined DHCC including the City Hospital, Sharif Medical Centers, Dubai Bone and Joint Center, who have relocated their premises to DHCC, and a new state-of-the-art ambulatory care center, The Dubai Medical Suites or DMS. In addition, plans are being developed for the wellness community thorugh the Dubai Wellness Resort Project.
Dr Ayesha Abdullah said: "The breadth and quality of our progress demonstrates our commitment to realizing our vision. With patient satisfaction at 89%, we know we are making an impact -but we remain ambitious and will continue to develop the facilities and expertise that will secure our position as the leaders in high quality, patient-centred healthcare."
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About DHCC:
Dubai Healthcare City (DHCC) is envisioned to become the internationally recognized location of choice for quality healthcare and an integrated regional center of excellence for clinical and wellness services, medical education and life science research in the Middle East. DHCC is the world's first healthcare free zone planned to be built in phases. The first phase of 4.1 million square feet is now operational with a medical cluster comprised of day-care and outpatient clinics, diagnostic centers, rehabilitation centers, transplantation centers, hospitals and a sector for pharmaceutical and equipment suppliers.
DHCC is home to the Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Academic Medical Center with its fully integrated five entities in Phase 1: University Hospital, Harvard Medical School Dubai Center- Institute for Postgraduate Education and Research (HMSDC), Dubai Harvard Foundation for Medical Research (DHFMR), Al Maktoum Harvard Medical Library, and Boston University Institute for Research and Education.
Some other renowned partners of the medical cluster are - Dubai Bone & Joint Center (DBAJ), The City Hospital, Dubai Medical Suites (DMS), Mayo Clinic, Moorfields Eye Hospital Dubai, Dr. Sulaiman Al Habib Medical Center, the American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery Hospital, Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Trust, Swiss Academy of Scientific Acupuncture, Dr. Nicolas & ASP and the German Heart Center, Wyeth, Sanofi Aventis, Novartis, AstraZeneca, Smith & Nephew, Fresenius Medical Care, Novo Nordisk, among others.
The second phase will feature a dedicated wellness cluster comprised of Wellness centers, Nutrition centers, Resorts, Spas, and Sports Medicine facilities.
About Tatweer
Tatweer is a member of Dubai Holding and one of the largest and fastest growing business conglomerates in the region. Tatweer's name is synonymous with some of the most ambitious developments in Dubai and an equally extensive portfolio of prestigious projects in the pipeline.
Launched in December 2005, Tatweer owns and manages a strategic group of entities across six diverse industry verticals: Leisure and Entertainment, Commodities, Healthcare, Hospitality, Manufacturing, and Real Estate. The operations are strategically grouped under two distinct divisions - Tatweer Dubai and Tatweer Investments.
Tatweer Dubai will focus on project development within the UAE and advance strategic long term partnerships such as Partners-Harvard Medical International; the internationally renowned golfer Tiger Woods; IRCA Global, and Universal Studios. Tatweer Dubai's entities comprise Dubai Healthcare City (DHCC), the region's hub for world-class quality healthcare services; Dubailand®, the world's most ambitious tourism, leisure and entertainment destination; The Tiger Woods Dubai, the exclusive golf community home to the world's first Tiger Woods designed golf course; Bawadi®, the largest hospitality, shopping and entertainment cluster in the world; Dubai Industrial City, a township to develop Dubai as a leading manufacturing hub; IRCA Middle East, a joint venture with International Risk Control Association IRCA Global, South Africa to provide comprehensive pure risk management solutions to a wide spectrum of industries in the MENA region; Global Village, bringing together 160 different countries showcasing myriad cultures; and the Parks & Resorts DUBAILAND® featuring Universal Studios DUBAILAND®, Dreamworks DUBAILAND®, Six Flags DUBAILAND®, LEGOLAND DUBAILAND®, Marvel DUBAILAND®, Freej DUBAILAND® and HIT Entertainment.
Tatweer Investments will drive Tatweer's foray into international markets, leveraging its synergy with leading global strategic partners. It will extend Tatweer's existing intellectual property portfolio and generate innovative IP driven investments and partnerships overseas. The entities under Tatweer Investment's portfolio include Mizin, pursuing a vision to become the real estate developer of choice in the UAE; Dubai Mercantile Exchange, the premier international commodity futures exchange in the Middle East; and new businesses in the food and beverage industry forged through alliances with leading international brands.
© Press Release 2009
