Dubai Health Sector has several options for international accreditations

Dubai, United Arab Emirates, December 29, 2014: Dubai recognises more than 20 international accreditations for healthcare facilitates and therefore the health sector in Dubai has several options to seek international accreditations, said a top health official.

H.E. Eng. Essa Al Maidoor, Director-General of the Dubai Health Authority, said: “ Dubai has a dynamic health sector and we recognise more than 20 international accreditations for health facilities, thus the health sector in Dubai have several options to choose from in terms of seeking international accreditations. In line with the DHA’s health regulation mandate, all hospitals in Dubai must be internationally accredited and we are pleased to see that hospitals either already have the accreditation or are in process of obtaining it.”

He added that hospitals that are accredited, work towards reaccreditation on a regular basis, because of the DHA mandate, which helps Dubai sustain high quality of health services and ensures patient-safety.

Al Maidoor said: “Seeking international accreditations for the health sector of Dubai is in line with the vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai and is in line with the Dubai Health Strategy 2013-2025. International accreditations are important to benchmark ourselves at an international level and accreditations are a tool to ensure delivery of safe and high-quality services for our population and visitors alike. Accreditations also provide a boost to the medical tourism.”

Al Maidoor said that Dubai has come a long way in terms of international accreditations since this program began in 2007 when only one private hospital was internationally accredited.

Today, Dubai has 25 private hospitals, of which, two will be down-graded to day-care centres. Presently 18 hospitals are accredited and 5 are under process, of which two are new hospitals, and will begin the accreditation process after being operational for 18 months.

In terms of the public sector, the accreditation journey for the DHA began in 2007 when Dubai hospital, Latifa (previously known as Al Wasl) and Rashid were internationally accredited  in 2007 and were reaccredited in 2010 and 2013 respectively. DHA’s Thalassemia Center achieved an international accreditation in 2007  and was reaccredited in 2010 and 2013. Similarly, the Airport Medical Center achieved its accreditation for ambulatory care standards in 2010 and was reaccredited in 2013. The Dubai Blood Donation Centre achieved the AABB accreditation in 2012 by successfully meeting standards set by American Association of Blood Banks(AABB).This accreditation made DBDC the first centre in the UAE and one of the few centres in the Middle-East region to achieve the AABB Accreditation.