Dubai ruler launches 5-year strategy to boost healthcare

Dubai Ruler Sheikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum on Tuesday launched a five-year health strategy to bolster the emirate’s healthcare sector.

Noting that Dubai is facing a challenge to improve its healthcare services, Sheikh Mohammad said the new strategy aims to “establish Dubai as a main medical destination in the UAE and the wider region where one billion people are living around us,” according to a statement released by state news agency WAM.

“It is everyone’s responsibility to develop this vital sector and we will continuously follow up on the developments. Our confidence in Dubai Health Authority (DHA) leaders is determined by the volume of progress and development in medical services rendered to the public,” Sheikh Mohammad was quoted as saying.

The strategy features four segments: Health and lifestyle, excellence in providing service, smart health care and governance.

It also includes 15 programs and 93 initiatives with several goals to achieve, among them ensuring a healthy and safe environment for Dubai’s people and ensuring the provision of a high quality comprehensive and integrated health service system.

Other goals include securing an effective ecological system for the health-care sector in Dubai.

“Our most important investment will be in DHA medial cadres and staff because they are the real capital due to their knowledge, skills and continued training,” Sheikh Mohammad said, adding: “We will also build strategic partnerships with the private sector to ensure the consolidation of Dubai as a capital for medical tourism during the coming period.”