Dubai Health Authority concludes first stage of regulation consultation programme

In association with the existing regulatory entities, the DHA is seeking to deliver one single new integrated licensing system for the whole of Dubai. Consequently the DHA's health regulation team has undertaken over 50 briefings with a range of health experts and organisations as well as progressing a number of successful discussions with the ten existing bodies currently responsible for regulating healthcare within Dubai. This includes the Department of Health and Medical Services (DoHMS), Dubai Municipality, Dubai Police, free zones in Dubai including Dubiotech and Dubai Healthcare City, the Federal Ministry of Social Affairs and the Ministry of Health as well as elements within the private sector.

The team also hosted a special 'Big Talk', a day of innovative and creative discussion attended by over 55 experts, looking at the future of regulation of the healthcare sector in Dubai.

Commenting on the consultation programme, His Excellency Qadhi Saeed Al Murooshid, the Director General of the Dubai Health Authority, said: 'The evolution of the healthcare sector is important for the future development of Dubai. Therefore the DHA has an ongoing commitment to consult with all parties and stakeholders as part of its wider strategic review to ensure we secure the best new system for now and for the future.'

He adds: 'One single efficient and effective regulatory system is an essential part of the DHA's strategic programme. It will drive quality within the healthcare sector, delivering improved health service standards, providing access to information about health service providers and professionals, creating a transparent licensing process and a genuine choice of health service providers for the people of Dubai.'

As part of this initial consultation programme the DHA has reviewed how:

•The DHA will bring together existing regulators
•Ensure that all healthcare provider and healthcare professional needs are understood
•Establish the role and responsibilities of the new regulatory system
•Define the DHA's health regulation processes
•Decide how any new health regulation agency will be implemented

Led by Dr Essa Kazim, the Director responsible for establishing the health regulation project, the DHA's health regulation team is proposing to start rolling out a new system within the next twelve months. It will be introduced as part of a phased programme over the next four years, completing in 2012. Eventually all healthcare facilities and all health professionals will have to be licensed under the new regulations in order to operate and practice in Dubai. The new system will also therefore include an associated complaints and enforcement process.

The benefits that one regulation process include:

•Bring all relevant regulating bodies into one functioning entity improving regulatory efficiency for health service providers
•Increase transparency of the licensing process
•Improve quality of health service standards
•Improve monitoring of health service performance
•Increase access to information about health service standards and costs
•Improve data and information to inform health policy development
•Provide equal opportunity for public and private health service providers
•Ensure genuine competition between health service providers to increase choice for the people of Dubai

The consultation programme is still ongoing and further announcements on the ongoing progress of the DHA's health regulation team will be made in due course.