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Physicians Told to Abide by New Licensing Criteria

DUBAI— Physicians who do not meet the Dubai Health Authority’s (DHA) new licensing criteria will only be allowed to work for a specific grace period and under a provisional licence, says a senior health official.

“This is the start of a phased transition programme. The new licensing process has been designed to ensure a coordinated approach to the licensing system in Dubai to help drive high standards of quality care as the population continues to grow,” said Dr Essa Kazim, Director of Health Regulation at the DHA.

According to Dr Kazim, the physicians can collect application details from the DHA centre at Al Murooj Rotana Hotel in Dubai from January 16 to 30.

Among the application details would be a username and password, which the physicians would have to use to access the new licensing software.

“It (DHA) will be the sole issuing authority of all licences for all health professionals and facilities in Dubai,” says Dr Kazim.

Consequently it will manage all regulatory functions within the medical and health sector in Dubai.

Currently 10 bodies are regulating healthcare in Dubai. The DHA is seeking to deliver one single new integrated licensing system for the entire Dubai.

The physicians would be required to upgrade their qualifications and undergo further training in their areas of specialisation during the grace period in order to meet the new requirements or else they risk losing their licence.

In a circular earlier this month, the DHA announced the start of the ‘grandfathering’ process, the term used for the renewal of all existing healthcare licences held by all physicians, in the public and private sectors in Dubai.

“Physicians who do not meet the new criteria will be ‘grandfathered’. This means that their right to practice will be recognised, but they will only be given a provisional licence covering a specified grace period,” said Dr Kazim.

“They will be asked to enter into a contract with the DHA health regulation specifying that they will seek to achieve the required criteria and/or undertake specified further training that is intended to be available locally,” he said.

“But the physicians who do not meet the criteria during the grace period will have their licence suspended or not renewed,” added Dr Kazim.

However, the licence of physicians who meet the new criteria will be automatically upgraded to a full licence and will be renewable after two years.

asmaalizain@khaleejtimes.com

• UAE