DHA concludes second edition of "Health Pioneers" programme

Dubai: The Dubai Health Authority (DHA) concluded the second edition of the “Health Pioneers” programme, which is a leadership training programme launched by the authority to provide leadership training to its top management leaders.

The programme’s 30 participants were honoured during an award ceremony held on Sunday at the DHA’s Innovation Centre where His Excellency Humaid Al Qutami, Director General of the DHA, presented them with certifications for completing the second edition of the programme.

The second edition of the “Health Pioneers” programme, which was launched last September, in partnership GE Healthcare, is in line with the vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, to foster and develop young national talents in the health sector.

The programme aims to provide DHA top management with the skills to overcomechallenges and connect theories with practical practices using state-of-the-art methods and mechanisms.

The 2^nd edition of the tailor-made quality and healthcare leadership development programme saw 30 executives from the DHA take part in an intensive eight month, five-module programme, which focused on leadership and coaching, change acceleration process, strategy and international benchmarking.  The participants were supported by GE coaches, who led team-based coaching sessions at the conclusion of each module. 

The programme concluded with a visit to the U.S., where executives toured the renowned Johns Hopkins Judy Reitz Command Centre and Children’s National Hospital in Baltimore and Washington, DC., and attended workshops on design thinking & intellectual curiosity. 

Commenting on the conclusion of the second edition of “Health Pioneers”, His Excellency Humaid Al Qutami, Director General of the DHA commended the first and second edition of the programme and its outcomes. He said that the programme is an important tool for preparing Emirati leadership within the authority to perform their responsibilities in an innovation and creative environment.

He added that the programme was designed to keep par with recent trends in the field of health and administrative systems, in line with the aspirations of the authority and its strategic plans and the directives of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai.

Al Qutami commended the outcomes of the programme and its ability to prepare distinguished leaders in various disciplines by linking the training programme with the objectives of the authority's strategy, which will greatly contribute to the development of the authority’s services and facilities to achieve customer satisfaction and happiness. 

Al Qutami concluded by thanking the organising teams, which includes members from the authority’s Human Resources Department and GE Healthcare.

Elie Chaillot, President & CEO, GE Healthcare in the Eastern Growth Markets, commented: “We extend our warmest congratulations to the graduates of the leadership development programme. Alongside our partner Dubai Health Authority, we’re proud to support the development of the UAE’s future healthcare leaders.”

Karim Benhameurlaine, Managing Principal, GE Healthcare Partners in the Eastern Growth Markets, added: “Healthcare is experiencing rapid change in the region and around the world.  This change requires a new leadership approach for institutions to really thrive.  Through our partnership with DHA, we’ve been able to deliver an intensive leadership programme that will help their executives facilitate their organisational strategy through building alignment, winning mindshare and growing the capacity of others.”

One of the programme’s participants, Hana Ahmed, Head of the Events section at the DHA’s Corporate Communications and Marketing Department said:

“I especially learned from the trip to the US where I got to see first-hand international first-class models in the healthcare system. What mostly touched me was the legacy that the late Sheikh Zayed left across the world. In Children’s National Hospital there was the “Sheikh Zayed Institute for Paediatric Surgical Innovation” which was donated by our founding father and in John Hopkins we visited a section that was also donated by Sheikh Zayed called Sheikh Zayed Tower,” she said.

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For further information, please contact:
Mahmoud Al Ali
Kamakshi Gupta and Noor Nazzal
Head of Media
Communications Analysts- Media Dept.
Dubai Health Authority
myalali@dha.gov.ae
klgupta@dha.gov.aennnazzal@dha.gov.ae
+9714 219 7260
+9714 2197455

About the Dubai Health Authority:
The Dubai Health Authority (DHA) was created, in June 2007, by Law 13 issued by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE, Ruler of Dubai, with an expanded vision to include strategic oversight for the complete health sector in Dubai and enhance private sector engagement. 

Prior to the establishment of the DHA, the Department of Health and Medical Services, which was established in 1973, was the functioning authority that almost exclusively focused on health service delivery.

In May 2018, H.H Sheikh Mohammed, issued Law No. (6) Of 2018 of the DHA. The new Law further enables the DHA to achieve its objectives including regulating medical services in Dubai, enhancing competiveness and transparency, improving medical services and products based on international best practices and achieving the sector’s objectives according to approved strategic plans.

According to the Law, DHA will ensure the availability of quality medical insurance programmes, improve medical services according to the highest international standards, contribute to providing attractive infrastructure for investments, boost Dubai’s position as a global hub for medical tourism and medical education, encourage innovation in the healthcare sector and improve preventive healthcare measures.

The Law specified DHA’s responsibilities to include preparing a comprehensive strategic plan for Dubai’s healthcare sector, conducting studies and surveys to define Dubai’s future needs and matching the results with future investments, licensing and monitoring medical workers and medical facilities according to DHA’s approved regulations. Its responsibilities also include regulating medical education and medical research in collaboration with competent local and international authorities and drafting and developing policies and procedures for the healthcare sector in Dubai.

The Law authorises DHA to regulate and approve the prices of medical services offered by private healthcare facilities in Dubai and ensure the quality of medical services. DHA is also responsible for regulating and facilitating the sending of patients for specialised medical treatment to healthcare facilities both within and outside the country, regulating and overseeing medical tourism in collaboration with concerned authorities, managing and developing policies that govern medical insurance and regulating medical advertising in Dubai.

H.H Sheikh Mohammed also issued Decree No. 17 of 2018 establishing subsidiaries of the DHA: the Dubai Healthcare Corporation and Dubai Health Insurance Corporation to further enhance healthcare services in Dubai and enable DHA to fulfil its responsibilities and obligations.

Three new strategic sectors were also added as part of the decree; they include Strategy and Corporate Development, Health Regulation, and Shared Support Services.

In addition to overseeing the health sector for the Emirate of Dubai, the DHA also focuses on providing services through DHA healthcare facilities including Latifa, Dubai, Rashid and Hatta Hospitals, its 12 primary healthcare centres, 17 medical fitness centres and its 6 specialty centres.

For more information, visit DHA’s website: www.dha.gov.ae 

© Press Release 2019