The Dubai Health Authority (DHA) has assured doctors that the relicensing process that starts this month will be confidential. Between Jan 16 and 30, all doctors in the emirate will need to register online to re-apply for their medical licences, and undertake further training if necessary. Dr Essa Kazim, director of the authority's health regulation programme, said the DHA understood the process was a sensitive issue that needed to be "managed in a confidential and private manner".
The DHA is hosting two seminars today for doctors and staff from the Department of Health and Medical Services, which is being mostly replaced by the DHA, to help them understand the changes. There will be a general introduction to new health regulations, including the process to help some doctors meet the requirements of the new licence. Dr Kazim said: "We want to provide assurance to physicians that their application will be dealt with in complete confidence."
He said every doctor would be provided with a unique identification number when they signed up for the process to ensure confidentiality. The physicians who sign up for the relicensing will be given a log-in name and password for the online registration application. Those who meet the new criteria will have their licence automatically upgraded. It will be renewable every two years. Those who do not meet the standards will be given a provisional licence covering a grace period. Those who do not meet the terms during the grace period will have their licences revoked or suspended.
"The DHA will be responsible for all health regulation and licensing in Dubai for professionals, services, and facilities across both the public and private sectors," Dr Kazim said. "However, as we seek to drive the quality of health care, we want to assure everyone that this will be introduced as part of a phased and managed process." The seminars will be held at the Rashid Hospital Library Auditorium today. Department of Health and Medical Services staff should attend from 12pm, and physicians from 2pm.
munderwood@thenational.ae