Medical professionals can practise across UAE

An agreement has paved the way for professionals from the health ministry to work freely across the country. The move is expected to further enhance the quality of healthcare in the UAE and also counter any staff shortages.

Shaikh Mohammed and Shaikh Hamdan at the 39th Arab Health Exhibition & Congress at the Dubai International Convention & Exhibition Centre on Wednesday. — Wam

His Highness Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, on Wednesday attended the signing of an agreement for the unification of licences for medical practitioners in the country, on the sidelines of his visit to the Arab Health Exhibition and Congress at the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre. Also present was Shaikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai.

“A new step on the right path in order to unify the regulations, laws and procedures governing this noble human profession,” said Shaikh Mohammed while commending the signing of the agreement.

The ruling will be applicable within the next three months.

The agreement was signed by Minister of Health, Abdul Rahman bin Mohammed Al Owais, Director-General of the Dubai Health Authority (DHA) Essa Al Maidoor, and Dr Maha Barakat, Director-General of the Abu Dhabi Health Authority (Haad).

Health authorities of Dubai and Abu Dhabi had signed an agreement in 2012 to allow medical professionals of both emirates to work freely for each other. The move was followed by Dubai Healthcare City.

Wednesday’s signing now allows professionals from the health ministry to work for the authorities and vice versa. Over 200 professionals from the DHA have been licensed by Haad since the agreement and vice versa.

Commenting on the agreement, Al Maidoor said: “We are living in one country…we have doctors and technical staff in different fields of medicine who change their places between the emirates.

“So in this way we are unifying when the doctor is tested or interviewed by any of the authorities, he practice freely between any other emirate,” he said.

“This will be more flexible, unify the requirements between the emirates and guarantee the quality of work,” he added.

Al Maidoor said that a legislation would govern the agreement and in case of violation, action would be taken.

Currently, there are 18,000 licensed professionals in the private and government health sector in Dubai and 22,000 in Abu Dhabi.

No comment was available from the health ministry.

Health professionals, however, said that though it would now be easier to share expertise and experience especially in some sub-specialties of the medical field, general practitioners may not be able to benefit much. Some UAE national specialists are already allowed to work between both emirates.

(With inputs from Wam)

asmaalizain@khaleejtimes.com