Dubai Health Authority Unveils New Disaster Medicine Programme To Strengthen Healthcare System

The Dubai Health Authority (DHA) has recently unveiled the "Dubai Disaster Medicine Programme", a strategic initiative designed to elevate the city's healthcare readiness and strengthen its public health safety framework in anticipation of medical emergencies. This programme is set to enhance Dubai's capacity to respond to disasters, emergencies, and crises through a cohesive and globally recognized approach, aligning with the standards of leading international institutions.

The initiative has received accreditation from prestigious bodies including the European Centre for Disaster Medicine and the American College of Surgeons. It aims not only to augment the healthcare sector's capabilities in Dubai but also to ensure utmost preparedness for any health-related crises or disasters. Furthermore, it intends to improve Dubai's resilience index and foster a culture adept at managing crises and disasters.

Developed in partnership with the UAE’s Medical Preparedness and Response Programme, ‘Jaheziya’, this new programme also seeks to standardize disaster medicine training and unify reliable information sources. Awadh Seghayer Al Ketbi, Director-General of the DHA, emphasized Dubai's ambition to establish global benchmarks in healthcare excellence. He noted that Dubai is equipped with top-notch medical facilities, advanced technologies, smart solutions, and a highly skilled workforce, aiming to uphold the highest levels of public health security.

Dr. Khaled Abdullah Lootah, a Public Health Consultant and Head of the Disaster Management Office at the DHA, pointed out that the programme is designed to boost expertise in disaster medicine and crisis management across Dubai’s government and private hospitals. It targets medical and technical support staff as well as nursing personnel, focusing on disaster medicine, health challenges, and crisis management to improve professional practices and community safety protocols.

The programme's inauguration was attended by notable healthcare professionals including Professor Roberto Mastriviro and Dr. Adel Al Shamry Al Ajami. Dr. Lootah revealed that 100 medical and hospital administrative staff in Dubai have already been trained under this programme in disaster medicine. The goal is to train 1,000 specialized medical and nursing professionals by the end of this year and over 10,000 hospital leaders and healthcare professionals within the next five years. Trainees will receive two accredited certifications from recognized bodies.

Dr. Al Ajami highlighted that the Dubai Disaster Medicine Programme marks a significant advancement in enhancing capacities, readiness, and preparedness for frontline healthcare workers in both government and private sectors. This internationally accredited approach has been endorsed by leading specialized medical training centres. He praised the DHA’s leadership for their dedication to improving human resources in the healthcare sector, especially concerning medical emergency response, disasters, and crises.

This initiative represents a crucial step towards ensuring that Dubai remains at the forefront of healthcare excellence, ready to manage any crisis or disaster with efficiency and expertise.

With inputs from WAM