DHA to open Dubai's first comprehensive public Oncology, Bone Marrow and Haematology Care Centre following MoU with Dana Faber Cancer Institute

Delivering on its stated objective of developing world class health care facilities in Dubai as it continues to grow and expand, the DHA has signed an MoU with the Dana Faber Cancer Institute (DFCI), an affiliate of the Harvard Medical School and one of the principal cancer care and research establishments in the United States.

This agreement reinforces a growing number of mutually beneficial opportunities between the people of Dubai and internationally accredited institutions.

In November the DHA signed two further MoU's: the first with the Joslin Diabetes Centre to develop Dubai's first state of the art Diabetes Care Centre; and the second with the Harvard Medical Faculty Physicians (HMFP at BIDMC) who will assist the DHA on developing international healthcare standards in Dubai.

The DHA and DFCI are proposing to establish an extensive cancer care centre, capable of providing the very best cancer treatments, for inpatients and outpatients, as part of a structured plan to improve services and facilities across Dubai.

As part of this agreement DFCI will form an ongoing collaboration with the DHA in assessing the current cancer care facilities in Dubai as well as providing recommendations for the improvement in professional education, training and research.

Under the supervision of His Excellency the Director General of the DHA, Mr Qadi al Murooshid a committee was established to oversee the project.

The committee is chaired by Dr. Ali Ridha AlHashimi, Director of the Pathology services in DHA hospitals. The committee includes Dr. Mahmoud Mohamad Marashi (Haematology consultant and vice chair), Dr. Asma Abdul Rahman Al Olama (Haematology /oncology consultant), Dr. Khawla Belhowl (Haematology consultant), Dr. Mouza Abdulla AlSharhan (Histopathology consultant), Dr. Rania Medhat Seliem (Hematopathology Consultant), Mrs. Laila Yousuf AlJassmi (Director of Planning and Statistics department), Mr. Walid Jamal Al Sawalhi (Director of Finance and administration, Rashid Hosp.), Mr. Mohamed Saeed AL Dhuhoori (Head of project office), Mr. Bedredine Belkadi (Senior planner, Planning and Statistics department).

Commenting on the MoU with DFCI, His Excellency the Director General of the DHA, Mr Qadi al Murooshid, said: "As Dubai continues to develop as a regional commercial centre, the population also continues to grow, creating an increasing number of health issues and problems. The creation of the DHA has enabled the Government to seek international help and support to develop existing facilities in Dubai so that we can provide the very best healthcare for all our people, to the very best international standards.

"Cancer remains one of our biggest and deadliest diseases. The agreement with the DFCI provides some security to those who suffer from this terrible disease that the Government is doing everything it can to ensure that they have access to the very best international cancer care, not just in the region but from anywhere in the world."

He concluded: "The DHA will continue to grow and develop as a strategic health authority and further announcements on future health care provision will be made in due course."

Mr Al Murooshid signed the DFCI MoU alongside Dr. Lawrence Shulman, M.D. Chief Medical Officer for Dana Farber Cancer Institute and Dr Ali Ridha committee chairman.