DHA Completes a Project to Develop a Global System for Accrediting Continuing Professional Learning Programs

Dubai, United Arab Emirates, March 23, 2022: The Dubai Health Authority has announced the completion of the project to develop a global system for the accreditation of continuing professional development programs.

The project consists of four stages and was conducted in cooperation with the American Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education.
DHA is the first health institution in the UAE to complete this project aimed at enhancing the quality of medical training programs for health professionals in the Emirate of Dubai.

The American Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education is one of the leading international accreditation bodies that aims to improve the performance of physicians and patient care by setting international standards with accreditors and partners globally. It aims to ensure continuity of improvement and development of continuing medical education to improve health care for patients, families and communities all around the world.

His Excellency Awadh Seghayer Al Ketbi, Director-General of Dubai Health Authority highlighted the importance of this project, which is in line with the authority’s vision and its continuous efforts to strengthen its partnerships with various global institutions to meet and keep pace with the growing needs in the health sector. 
Al Ketbi also emphasized on the importance of continuous medical education especially in the healthcare field to keep up-to-date with the latest advances in medicine and to provide patients with the highest quality of medical care.

Dr. Wadeia Muhammad Sharif, Director of the Medical Education and Research Department at the Dubai Health Authority said that completion of this project in cooperation with the American Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education will ensure high-quality training and will help update the skills and professional knowledge of health care practitioners on an ongoing basis. 

She highlighted the importance of continuing medical education to ensure provision of the highest quality of health services.  

She said that the authority was able to complete the four phases of the project, which included reviewing and evaluating the effectiveness of the Dubai Health Authority's accreditation of continuous professional development programs. Drawing a road map by providing recommendations for accreditation standards that meet national and international expectations, rearranging and developing these standards to suit the needs of Emirati doctors. 

The third stage included an assessment of the capabilities and competency management to determine the health care system's ability to meet the expectations of the new accreditation requirements. This stage also included assessing the ability to operate local continuing education activities and foster the development of faculty members, while the fourth stage included a roadmap for managing training capabilities and competencies for the authority’s staff. 

Graham McMahon, President and CEO of the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education said that he was pleased to cooperate with Dubai Health Authority to support its initiative to align its accreditation system with international standards, and to improve the quality of continuing professional development programs for health professionals in the Emirate of Dubai

He expressed the importance of this cooperation to achieve the common vision of both parties and to provide effective education that helps provide optimal care for patients.