UAE, September 12, 2015 – In line with the strategic mission of promoting the health of the individual and society by providing them with comprehensive and distinctive services in a sustainable healthy environment, the UAE Ministry of Health’s Hospital Sector has recently launched ‘Hospitals and Health Clinics Assessment Program.’ The initiative aims to improve the level of healthcare services provided in hospitals and clinics in line with the international standards and best practices.

The ‘Hospitals and Health Clinics Assessment Program,’ will assess the performance of all the hospitals and health clinics operating under the umbrella of the UAE Ministry of Health. It will evaluate the progress and improvement made in the services provided, according to a uniform evaluation mechanism based on several indicators, including waiting time for the service, the level of customer satisfaction, the rate of staying as in-patient, and the success rate of operations. Moreover, the program will provide a unified database to save the results of the evaluation to study the scheduled measurable indicators for each facility on a regular basis and disclose them to visitors and the public annually.

H.E. Dr. Yousif Mohammed Al-Serkal, Assistant Undersecretary for the Hospitals Sector, UAE Ministry of Health, and Head of the Initiative Group, emphasized that ‘Hospitals and Health Clinics Assessment Program’ is of great significance as it supports the local efforts to enhance the transparency and credibility through direct communication with members of the community. Public will be informed of the results of the Ministry’s assessment of the health facilities which would contribute considerably in raising the level of patient and customer satisfaction and increase their trust and confidence in the UAE’s health care sector.

H.E. Dr. Al Serkal added: “The launch of this initiative reaffirms the Ministry’s commitment to provide comprehensive care and ensure a sustainable, secure and competitive environment among various healthcare service providers in the country. Moreover, it will contribute in boosting the growth of medical tourism to the UAE, consolidating its status as a fast growing destination for integrated healthcare services.”

Dr. Kaltham Al Balushi, Director of Hospitals Administration, UAE Ministry of Health, said: “The initiative is an important step towards the establishment of an evaluation program for a healthy competition between various healthcare service providers. It will motivate them to continue to comply with the highest standards of quality, professionalism, efficiency, safety and reliability in providing healthcare services as per the needs and requirements of the patients.”

‘Hospitals and Health Clinics Assessment Program’ will be implemented in several stages represented by placing the endorsement plan, which will be based on the proposals of the public and to the results of evaluation. The implementation of the pilot phase of the initiative will begin during the fourth quarter of 2015 and overall implementation in all the hospitals and health clinics affiliated to the Ministry will begin next year.