DHA licenses visiting doctors in record time

Internationally acclaimed doctors from a popular TV show have been given a licence to operate in Dubai — all process done online and within days.

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by

Asma Ali Zain

Published: Sat 25 Feb 2012, 12:13 AM

Last updated: Wed 22 Feb 2023, 9:31 AM

DUBAI - Internationally acclaimed doctors from a popular TV show have been given a licence to operate in Dubai — all process done online and within days.

Dr Andrew Ordon and Dr Ritu Chopra with Dr Marwan Akhund

The duo applied through the Dubai Health Authority’s online licensing system, “Sheryan”, that aims at easing the licensing process for qualified professionals worldwide.

Famous plastic surgeons Dr Andrew Ordon, host of popular TV show The Doctors, and Dr Ritu Chopra, plastic surgery correspondent for the show, said on Thursday that Dubai’s licensing and credentialing process was much faster than that of the US.

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“It can take up to four-five months to be licensed in the US but we got a rapid response from Dubai and the process was completed within days,” said Dr Chopra.

“We would not have been able to take time off, submit our documents and head back to the US, but once we were aware that this is an online procedure, we decided to go ahead. We were credentialed within 24 hours and received our licence in 10 working days,” said Dr Ordon.

The increasing demand for beautifying and reconstructive procedures from the Middle East market was also among the main reasons that prompted the doctors to set up shop in Dubai. Nose jobs, facelifts and body sculpting are among the most popular procedures in demand in the UAE, said the doctors.

“Over the last few years, we have seen a steady rise in the flow of patients from the UAE and the Middle East region who visited us in Los Angeles, USA, for plastic and reconstructive surgery,” he said.

“One of my most recent patients from the UAE was a woman wanting to get rid of a significantly large scar that she acquired after a tumour removal. This got us thinking that it would be best to visit Dubai and conduct workshops here from time to time for patients who require plastic and reconstructive surgery,” he added.

Dr Chopra said: “We intend to visit Dubai at least four times a year, for a period of 10 days, each time. We are currently visiting hospitals and health centres to see the best option in terms of practising surgery here. In addition to aesthetic surgery, we will also provide consultation for an assortment of reconstructive surgeries.”

Dr Marwan Akhund, Assistant Director of the DHA Health Regulation Department, said: “Since the implementation of this online licensing system in October, we have witnessed a surge in the number of applications. So far, we have received 59,629 applications, of which requests for licensing of new professionals were 6,668 and new healthcare facilities 104.”

asmaalizain@khaleejtimes.com

Asma Ali Zain

Published: Sat 25 Feb 2012, 12:13 AM

Last updated: Wed 22 Feb 2023, 9:31 AM

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