DUBAI: Dubai Healthcare City (DHCC) will launch a number of initiatives in 2009 aimed at bringing several changes in the Middle East's health care sector.
Speaking at a press conference at Arab Health, Dr. Ayesha Abdullah, senior vice president of DHCC said, "A major priority for DHCC is the development of local and regional health care professionals, through medical education and research programs which focus on health issues relevant to the region," said Abdullah.
Initiatives for 2009 include Harvard Medical School Dubai Center's (HMSDC) CME educational session on diabetes - a significant threat to the Arab world with the UAE ranking second worldwide for this disease. In addition, HMSDC is developing a simulation center that would offer a variety of mobile simulation-based courses for all levels of health care professionals.
To further support the development of regional health care professionals, Dubai Harvard Foundation for Medical Research (DHFMR) will provide a Science Writers and Journalists Fellowship Program in 2009 for the second consecutive year and also post-doctoral research fellowships based at Harvard to train scientists and researchers from the region.
DHFMR is also providing annual grants for two research teams under the Collaborative Research Center Program.
DHCC has further developed TAQEEM, the region's first healthcare licensing examination center, to improve health care quality and implement the best medical practice. TAQEEM will develop and administer comprehensive examinations for health care professionals.
Highlighting rapid progress, Abdullah showcased a range of achievements, "Major global brands are operating in DHCC including the Mayo Clinic, Harvard and Boston Universities, Moorfields Eye Hospital, the German Heart Centre, the American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery Hospital, Novartis and Astra Zeneca."
The Center for Healthcare Planning and Quality has begun implementing Complimentary & Alternative Medicine (CAM) codes, developed by ABC Coding Solutions to regulate and measure the outcomes of CAM procedures within DHCC. This initiative is unique to this part of the world.
DHCC strategic partner Boston University Dubai became the first and only private dental post-graduate institute in the Middle East to have a full spectrum of academic programs in five specialties accredited by the UAE Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research, which began accepting postgraduate students from 2008.
Arab Health was opened on Monday by UAE Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al-Maktoum. More than 50,000 medical and health care professionals are taking part in the event, which will continue until tomorrow at Dubai International Exhibition and Convention Center. The event is backed by the UAE's Ministry of Health, the Dubai Health Authority and the Health Authority of Abu Dhabi.
