The Dubai Health Authority (DHA) organised a forum today to share its future vision and ambitions to increase investment in the healthcare sector with international investors and business owners in the healthcare field.
The forum, which discussed the Certificate of Needs,’ guidelines for healthcare investors was launched today by the authority as part of the Dubai Investment Week in partnership with Dubai FDI, the investment development agency of Dubai Economy.
The forum was attended by H.E Humaid Al Qutami, Director General of the DHA, H.E Sami Al Qamzi Director General of the Department of Economic Development, Dubai and H.E Fahad Al Gergawi CEO of Dubai FDI.
During the event, the authority revealed its plans to develop “Certificate of Need” (CON) policies and guidelines with input from the private sector to help further bolster the health sector and promote need-based investments so that there is equilibrium in the sector and to avoid imbalances in supply and demand in health services. The move also aims to provide patients with access to a wide range of medical specialties.
Last year, DHA launched a comprehensive Health Investment Guide, which provides in-depth details of demand, supply (which includes future supply) and gaps in the health sector. The investment guide helps promote investment in need-based areas and supports investors. Now, adding a CON guidelines and policies will provide further clarity to investors and help them invest in areas of priority and need.
The authority revealed that it looks forward to receive the input and feedback of the private sector prior to developing the “Certificate of Need” policies and guidelines through the forum stressing that the private healthcare sector is the strategic partner of the authority in enhancing Dubai’s healthcare sector.
During his opening speech Al Qutami said the forum comes at an ideal time, in light of the announcement of H.H Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of the Executive Council, which stated that there has been distinct growth rates in foreign direct investment in Dubai during the first quarter of 2019.
Al Qutami added: “When His Highness the Crown Prince of Dubai says: “We are going to reach the first place in the world in attracting investment.” This is a clear declaration of Dubai’s ability to overcome all challenges, as well as its ability to take the lead in the most competitive international arena. We derive from this the incentive to succeed and excel. It is also a motivation to implement the healthcare sector investment policy adopted by His Highness.”
Al Qutami said that the Certificate of Needs,’ guidelines for healthcare investors forum aims to establish the Authority’s commitment to Dubai’s aspirations and to draw an integrated future of promising investment opportunities and related medical specialties and growing services.
“The DHA has come a long way in the health investment sector, through policies and strategies adopted to reflect the unique investment climate of Dubai compared to other cities around the world. Numbers can best describe this growth as the number of health facilities in Dubai’s private healthcare sector increased from 2,871 in 2015 to 3,401 in 2019.This increase can be attributed to the incentives Dubai offers international healthcare investors,” he said
The main session of the forum saw international healthcare investment expert Mark Britnell discuss the international investment trends in the healthcare sector.
