DHCC CEO appointed Executive Secretary General of Arab Hospitals Federation

Al Shamsi has become the first UAE representative to achieve the key position in the representative grouping of medical hospitals from across the Arab world.

"I am delighted to have been given this opportunity to represent the United Arab Emirates and the Dubai Healthcare City at this key industry grouping. It is a great honour and I am committed to do my best to fulfill the goals and ambitions of the Arab Hospitals Federation, the country I come from and the community that the DHCC will serve," said Al Shamsi in his acceptance speech.

He pointed out that there is a lot that could be and needs to be done to promote better health in the Arab world. "As Executive Secretary General, it will be my duty to improve healthcare delivery systems to our people - in whichever part of the Arab world they live in."

Welcoming Al Shamsi to the Arab Hospitals Federation, the grouping's chairman, Dr. Fawzi Hodaimi said: "During the first general meeting of the Federation that was held in Beirut on 18th and 19th of June, we discussed all the issues on how to face the challenges of the 21st Century regarding the healthcare and medical sector.

"Given the fact that the Federation is committed to catalyse Arab cooperation and its belief in the active role that the Dubai Healthcare City will play in developing the level of healthcare services regionally and internationally, the Federation decided to select Adel Al Shamsi to the post of its Executive Secretary General," Dr. Hodaimi said.

The mission of the Executive General Secretary will be to represent the Federation at various fora in coordination with the chairman. He will be a key player at board meetings and its committees. He will also evaluate, under the direction of the chairman, the preparations for the annual meetings of the federation, which will be held each year in different Arab countries. The next meeting will be held in the UAE.

The post of the Executive General Secretary does not come with a salary nor does any other board position.

The Arab Hospitals Federation was established in March 2002 and is an independent non-political and non-profit organisation that is supported by its members in Arab countries. With membership from over 22 Arab states, it maintains an official relationship with the League of Arab States, World Health Organisation and International Hospital Federation.

The Arab Hospitals Federation aims to increase scientific and technical cooperation among Arab hospitals and the medical institutions that are its members. It also seeks to cooperate with Arab and international organisations to formulate and implement training programmes for developing and enhancing the skills of medical personnel in Arab medical institutions. Another aim of the Federation is to cooperate with related parties to find out a common base for a unified health sector and to set standards for the accreditation for member hospitals.

Al Shamsi pointed out that the DHCC is committed to enhancing cooperation among various medical institutions in the Arab world to evolve a unified Arab health system. Under this guideline, the DHCC was the main supporter of the Med Health 2003 Arab Hospitals Federation Forum, which took place in Beirut from June 18th to 19th.