Etihad gets training team from Royal College

The Royal College of Physicians of Ireland is to provide training and research support for Abu Dhabi’s Etihad Airways at the airline’s medical centre.

The deal with the RCPI’s Faculty of Occupational Medicine would lead to the first occupational health nurses being trained in the UAE, the airline said.

The Royal College will prepare the Etihad medical centre to become an accredited training centre of its Faculty of Occupational Medicine. It will not provide medical services.

The partnership with the RCPI would provide the airline with education, training and research support. The faculty members will hold training courses and educational programmes to develop the skills of Etihad Airways’ staff and for the medical services offered by the airline.

“The deal is to ensure the highest safety standards for its crew and passengers, in line with Abu Dhabi Economic Vision 2030 to develop a world-class healthcare system in the emirate,” Etihad said.

The medical facility in Khalifa City includes an aviation clinic with the employee visa medical centre. It opened in 2010.

The medical facility would help Emiratis take up a nursing career in the aviation sector in collaboration with the Ajman-based Fatima College of Nursing, it said last year.

“Etihad Airways is leading the drive to raise standards in aviation medicine globally,” said Nadia Bastaki, the vice president of medical services at Etihad Airways.

The medical centre offers laboratory services, physiotherapy, radiology, dental care, nutrition counselling, ear, nose and throat services, primary care, and aviation health services.

The facility has 30 staff members, including 10 doctors.

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