Dubai, United Arab Emirates: The Dubai Health Authority (DHA) signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the The Canadian Commercial Corporation (CCC), a Crown Corporation of the Government of Canada to further strengthen and expand scope of cooperation in the field of healthcare.

The MoU was signed by H.E. Humaid Al Qutami, Chairman of the Board and Director-General of the DHA and H.E. Emmanuel Kamarianakis, Consul General at Consulate General of Canada to Dubai and the Northern Emirates.

CCC is the official international contracting agency of the Government of Canada and its role is to facilitate trade between Canada and other nations. CCC works with foreign customers and Canadian suppliers to facilitate mutually acceptable commercial solutions.

DHA and CCC will discuss cooperation in various areas of healthcare particularly medical and health-related infrastructure and management and operation of healthcare facilities.

His Excellency Humaid Al Qutami, Chairman of the Board and Director-General of the DHA, said: “This MoU is an extension of the strong ties we have with Canada in the field of healthcare. We are already collaborating with Canadian firms on key areas of interest such as medical education and harnessing AI technology in healthcare. This MoU further strengthens our relations and expands the scope of cooperation between both parties so that we can harness capabilities, facilitate knowledge transfer and enhance commercial relations in key identified projects that will mutually benefit both sides.”

Al Qutami added that this cooperation is in line with the DHA strategy 2016-2021 and that improving efficiencies in terms of health delivery and management as well as continuously improving patient-care and patient-experience is a priority of the DHA.

DHA has strong ties with Canada in the field of healthcare particularly in the field of medical education and training. Since mid-2017, as part of DHA’s Dubai Future Accelerators initiative Canadian healthcare firms such as Hexoskin, ApexK and HiNT have presented their cutting-edge technology and have discussed how it can be implemented in Dubai. The firms had senior representatives based in Dubai for a period of eight weeks to work with DHA teams and understand the healthcare landscape of the Emirate.

Micheal Cessford, Regional Director of Business Development and Sales at Canadian Commercial Cooperation, said: “CCC is committed to forming strategic alliances with state governments through their ministries and their agencies to facilitate the development of specific opportunities. CCC, through qualified Canadian companies, can assist in the development and implementation of projects that enhance performance of the health care sector. There is strong potential for Canadian firms and the DHA to collaborate on key healthcare areas and CCC aims to help facilitate this cooperation and present opportunities that will mutually benefit the DHA and Canadian healthcare firms.”

In July 2017, a Dubai government delegation that consisted of high-level DHA members, led by Dubai Investment Development Agency (Dubai FDI), an agency of the Department of Economic Development (DED), visited Canada for a five-day mission to discuss collaboration in various fields including healthcare.

Fahad Al Gergawi, CEO, Dubai FDI, highlighted that this MoU is a significant outcome from the mission. He said: “The Memorandum of Understanding signed today between the Government of Canada and the Dubai Health Authority provides a platform for the development of projects in medical education, public-private partnerships, medical & research collaboration and many other fields. Today’s signing is an excellent example of how various government entities within and beyond Dubai collaborate to bring innovation and technology together.”

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For further information, please contact:

Mahmoud Al Ali

Head of Media

Dubai Health Authority

myalali@dha.gov.ae

+9714 219 7260

Kamakshi Gupta or Noor Nazzal

Communications Analysts- Media Dept.

Dubai Health Authority

Klgupta@dha.gov.ae  ; NNNazzal@dha.gov.ae 

+9714 2197455

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 Al Qutami is the Chairman of the Board and Director-General 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 2018