The Dubai Health Authority (DHA) made the announcement on Wednesday, during the ongoing Arab Health Congress 2024, that Dubai has introduced a short-term "permit to practice" that is valid for three months. This permit will allow visiting medical experts to practice in the United Arab Emirates for a period of three months.
"plays a proactive role in equipping the local healthcare sector to handle emergencies, disasters, and crises," the Department of Health and Human Services (DHA) said about the effort.
Create a flexible work environment
According to the Department of Health and Human Services (DHA), the temporary permission, which is intended to create a flexible working environment for visiting medical professionals, will make it possible for healthcare facilities in the emirate to meet their demand for healthcare professionals and have access to medical expertise in specialized disciplines.
The Chief Executive Officer of the Health Regulation Sector of the Department of Health and Human Services, Dr. Marwan Al Mulla, made the observation that "obtaining a permit does not automatically guarantee obtaining a professional license within the same field at a later stage." It is necessary to fulfill all of the specific requirements that are listed in the Unified Professional Qualification Guide in order to be eligible for a professional license in a given sector.
Instructions on how to submit an application for the permission
According to the Department of Health and Human Services (DHA), local healthcare facilities "in order to bring international medical expertise to the country for a short period of time, they are required to apply for the permit." This indicates that professionals who are not residents of the UAE will not be able to submit an application for the service directly.
It was said by Dr. Al Mulla that the application procedure is "easy and can be obtained within a day" through the use of the electronic system known as "Sheryan." The application is submitted through the account of the medical director of a licensed healthcare facility, and the permit can be valid for a period of up to three months.
He proceeded by saying, "During this time period, healthcare professionals have the opportunity to work with healthcare facilities, become familiar with the regulations and standards that pertain to practice within the emirate, and begin the process of applying for a professional license."
Dubai's healthcare system receives a significant boost
Dr. Mohaymen Abdelghany, vice president at Fakeeh Care and chief executive officer at Fakeeh University Hospital – Dubai, made the following statement in response to the most recent initiative taken by the Dubai Health Authority (DHA): "The short-term 'permit to practice' is a very important step in enhancing the health care system in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in general and Dubai in particular for the better."
At the same time, he made the observation that "we strongly support this initiative that is very helpful for the health care ecosystem." This program allows us to bring in needed talents for certain specialties or crisis management intervention if it is required, and it is a short-term intervention.
According to Akbar Moideen Thumbay, vice president of Thumbay Healthcare, "With experts being granted the provision to practice for three months, healthcare facilities are able to offer advanced surgeries and specialized medical treatments, positioning the United Arab Emirates as a hub for high-quality healthcare services."
Additionally, in addition to the immediate benefits that this project provides in terms of manpower, it also provides an opportunity to reduce the workload of diagnostic teams. A more efficient and successful diagnostic process is ensured by the availability of trained personnel on a short-term basis, which eventually leads to an improvement in patient care.
"From an educational point of view, working together with well-known medical professionals during their brief periods of practice can significantly improve the clinical training that is provided at our teaching hospitals. In addition, Thumbay stated that they are looking forward to such partnerships since they would provide the future generation of healthcare professionals with valuable experiences that are based in the real world.
