DUBAI — The Dubai Health Authority (DHA) signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Medical Tourism Association at the World Medical Tourism and Global Health Congress which took place in Los Angeles.
With the signing of this MoU, both parties will work towards strengthening the medical tourism sector in Dubai.
Dubai is already known to be one of the top tourism destinations in the world and the DHA is further building its healthcare capabilities, policies and regulations to ensure that Dubai enjoys the same position as a healthcare destination. Dubai will host the prestigious regional Medical Tourism Congress, which will take place in February 2011 and will be held for the first time in the Middle East.
“In recent years, Dubai has seen a phenomenal growth in the health sector,” said Qadhi Saeed Al Murooshid, Director General of the DHA.
“Medical tourism is an integral aspect of healthcare, specially in the context of today’s globalised world,” Al Murooshid said.
Over the years, the patient base has indicated an increase in the number of regional patients who visit Dubai for treatment and thus the DHA sees tremendous potential in the growth of the medical tourism sector. Laila Al Jassmi, CEO of the Health Policy and Strategy Sector at the DHA seconded this opinion.
“The medical tourism industry generates over $30 billion worth of revenue annually. It is a huge industry globally and Dubai already has many factors that work to its benefit. At the DHA, we are strengthening our policies, regulations and further developing our healthcare capabilities to strengthen the medical tourism sector,” she said.
“At the DHA, we consider the private sector to be a key stakeholder and thus both the public and the private health sector in Dubai will be a part of the medical tourism conference which takes place in 2011.”
Khaleej Times