100 per cent success for medical residents that undertook Arab Board exams for family medicine in Dubai.

• Continuous medical education a priority for the DHA

• Continuous education and enrolment of qualified staff in health sector, vital for its growth and development

United Arab Emirates, Dubai, May 14, 2014:  All medical residents that applied for the Arab Board Exam for Family Medicine in Dubai, this year, have passed the exam, said a top DHA official.

Dr Manal Taryam, CEO of the primary healthcare sector at the DHA, said: “ Since the last 14 years, Dubai has been recognised by the Arab Board Council for Medical Specializations as a centre for its examinations and DHA hosts this exam. This year, all 29 medical residents from UAE, Lebanon and Egypt, who took part in the exam have passed the exam and we are very pleased that this year we have a 100 per cent success rate. The Dubai Family Medicine Residency Training Program is  an intensive four year program and is considered to be one of the strongest training programs, as graduating doctors can directly join the health sector and practice medicine upon completion of this program, adding to the  manpower within the primary healthcare sector.”

Dr. Wadeia Karmustaji ,program director of the Family Medicine Dubai Residency Program, Primary Health Care Services Sector at the DHA, said: “Dubai has been paying strong emphasis on developing human resources in the medical sector. “Family medicine is a key speciality because the DHA considers primary healthcare to be frontline healthcare and therefore family medics are the first-point-of-contact for patients unless critical care is required. Providing continuous medical education is vital to boost the flow of human resources in the health sector, which is vital for its growth and development.”

She said the DHA not only helps graduates complete their specialization in Dubai but also provides them with opportunities to seek their specialization and sub specialization abroad. This takes 6 to 8 years, after the medic has completed his graduation and often doctors with work experience, pursue such in-depth courses to seek sub specializations. So far more than 90 graduates have completed their  specializations and sub-specializations abroad in different fields of healthcare and have returned back to work with the Authority.

In addition to the Arab Board, Dubai is also a centre to hold exams for the Membership of Royal College of General Practitioners (MRCGP, UK) program. Thus the residency program provides the opportunity for dual qualifications of their graduates.
She said since 2001, the total numbers of graduates are 133; of which 84 medical residents have completed their Arab Board Specialization in Family Medicine and 61 graduates have completed their MRCGP program.

She added that continuous medical education is a key focus of the DHA and that the authority has tied up with prestigious universities, medical boards and health institutions in the country and abroad to develop highly specialised human resources in the health field.