Dubai eyes global healthcare hub spot
The board of directors of the Dubai Healthcare City Authority (DHCA) has been set up by a resolution by Vice President and Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum in his capacity as Ruler of Dubai.
The resolution appoints Princess Haya Bint Al Hussein, wife of Sheikh Mohammed, as chairperson of the board and Raja Saleh Al Gurg as deputy chair. It also appoints Nart Mohammed Khair Mamser, Dr Khaled Mohammed Abdullah Al Zahed, Dr Siham Al Deen Kaldari, Dr Adnan Abu Hammour, Marwan Iqbal Mohammed Abdullah Abdeen and Dr Ayyoub Abdullah Badri as members of the board.
The term of the board’s membership is three years and is renewable. The resolution shall come into force with immediate effect and shall be published in the gazette.
Outlining the priorities and the plan of action for the board, Princess Haya said on Wednesday that the newly-appointed board will play a leading role in fulfilling Sheikh Mohammed’s vision for a centre of medical excellence that will improve healthcare in the UAE and establish Dubai as an international medical and healthcare hub.
Acting under the authority Law No. 9 of 2011, the DHCA board will oversee and manage the Dubai Healthcare City free zone, realigning it as an internationally renowned centre for integrated medical services.
The board’s strategic powers and duties include reviewing the DHCA’s policies and operational plans; determining investment opportunities in the free zone; and appointing specialised consultants to assist in defining DHCA’s initiatives.
The board will oversee a new governance structure that will include a new entity (DHCR), the Dubai Healthcare City Regulatory arm, which will include the current regulatory and licensing authority known as The Center of Planning and Quality (CPQ). DHCR will report directly to the DHCA Board and will serve as an independent licensing and regulatory authority for all healthcare providers, medical educational institutions and other businesses operating within the free zone.
As specified in Law No. 9, board members will be accountable to Princess Haya, who reiterated her intention to fulfil Sheikh Mohammed’s vision and to address issues and concerns that were brought to her attention in meetings with DHCA’s stakeholders last month.
“By keeping pace with the specific needs and goals of the authority, the highly qualified board members will enhance the creativity of DHCA and make it a decision-based driven organisation.”
“They bring to this important task extensive knowledge of regional and international healthcare issues, as well as management, operations and governance skills, to create a foundation that will improve healthcare in Dubai and, in the long term, position DHCA as a healthcare leader on the world stage. With the new board in place, and with Sheikh Mohammed’s continued support, I have no doubt that his vision for Dubai Healthcare City will become a reality,” said Princess Haya.
Academic centre
She added that the board will work to advance all of the planned components of the healthcare free zone and its centrepiece, the Mohammad Bin Rashid Academic Medical Centre.
The working plans for the centre anticipate the creation of a comprehensive medical hub, offering all of the key elements of modern healthcare. When fully completed, the complex will include a high-quality university hospital with specialised services needed in Dubai, the UAE and the region; a postgraduate medical and dental programme; a postgraduate nursing school; and a biomedical research support centre.
As a top priority and in close cooperation with the Dubai Health Authority, the university hospital will be incorporated into a larger framework of hospitals in Dubai that will provide high-quality care for patients and a wide variety of learning opportunities for students and resident doctors, pursuing careers as specialised physicians, nurses or other healthcare professionals.
Princess Haya said the DHCA board will work closely with the Dubai Health Authority (DHA) to come up with the best healthcare model to serve Dubai. She said the appointment of Qadhi Al Murooshid, director general of the DHA, to the DHCA board would help ensure that the two entities work in close consultation.