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Find out moreThe first Law Update of 2024 is here, and our first focus of the year spotlights Healthcare and Lifesciences, a sector that is undergoing significant growth and development across the MENA region.
Our focus provides an insight into some of the most important regulatory updates across the region, such as the UAE’s groundbreaking law on the use of human genome, Kuwait’s resolution on nuclear and radioactive materials, the new regulations for healthcare services in Qatar, Egypt’s healthcare regulatory framework, and the impact of the Saudi Civil Transactions Law on the healthcare and life sciences sector … and there is so much more!
Beyond the healthcare pages our lawyers share with you multi-sector insights where you will discover articles on Dubai’s DIFC regulatory framework for startups, Bahrain’s commercial agencies law, and we also shed light on Kuwaiti civil code and the advantages of setting up a joint stock company in Saudi Arabia.
Read the full editionChristina Sochacki - Senior Counsel - Corporate / Mergers and Acquisitions
With effect from 1 January 2018, the Department of Health – Abu Dhabi (‘DOH’) stopped issuing licences for general clinics, with limited exceptions. All licensed general clinics have until 20 December 2018 to change their facility type to meet the requirements of a primary healthcare centre, or another type of specialist healthcare facility. All healthcare facilities wishing to provide family medicine and primary healthcare will have to first be licensed by the DOH.
This change puts into full effect the DOH Standard for Primary Health Care in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi (‘Standard’), which is applicable to all healthcare providers, both public and private, wishing to provide primary healthcare in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi. The Standard, which was issued in August 2016, defines the requirements for ‘Primary Healthcare Services’ in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, aims to improve patient access to quality and safe primary healthcare services, and sets the minimum requirements and specifications that healthcare providers are required to comply with in providing healthcare in a primary care setting. These changes reflect the authority’s initiative to create a more patient-centric care model, ensure continuity of care, and reduce fragmentation in the healthcare system.
According to the World Health Organisation, primary healthcare is a core basis of a successful healthcare system. The intention is that primary healthcare facilities will be able to better guide the care of patients, while reducing the burden on specialist and emergency medical services, arguably reducing the costs of the healthcare industry on the UAE economy.
The UAE healthcare system is faced with a rising demand on services, due to a rapidly expanding population caused by natural growth and a positive net migration. One of the challenges of the current model of care is the lack of sufficient prevention programmes integrated into care plans and patients’ direct access to services and specialty care leading to an increase in the inappropriate use and over-supply of services. At present, patients opt to approach specialists directly as the first point of care for general medicine needs and, in some cases, approaching more than one facility and specialist (‘doctor shopping’); this places an unnecessary burden and expense on the healthcare system.
Excluding certain exceptions (clinics located in construction sites, hotels, schools, sports and social clubs, and companies), DOH will no longer issue new licences for ‘general’ healthcare clinics in Abu Dhabi. Moreover, all licensed specialised clinics and medical centres wishing to practise family medicine must meet the Standard and submit a ‘change in type’ application in order to change the healthcare facility type to a ‘Primary Health Care Centre’. Likewise, hospitals in Abu Dhabi wishing to provide primary healthcare services must request to include such services under their clinical support services list approved by the DOH.
In order to meet the requirements of the Standard when updating the facility type, clinics that provide only general healthcare from general practitioners will have to employ a specialist or consultant to lead the care. Such supervising physician must be a consultant or specialist in family medicine, internal medicine or paediatrics, depending on the local population demographics served and in accordance with DOH health professional licensing requirements. It is expected that primary healthcare facilities will provide advanced levels of treatment led by a specialist or consultant, guiding the patients towards receiving the best care.
The DOH has determined that primary healthcare services in Abu Dhabi comprise a range of services provided in support of preventive, curative, and palliative healthcare. Services that must be provided in a primary care setting include:
Additional services that may be provided, if required by the local population include:
The DOH may impose sanctions in relation to any breach of requirements under the Standard, in accordance with Chapter IX of the DOH Healthcare Regulator Policy Manual of November 2017.
DOH’s ultimate aim is to have a licensed family medicine care provider within each precinct in Abu Dhabi. As a result, the DOH anticipates that there will be improved patient access to quality and safe primary healthcare services.
Should you require any advice concerning the Standard or adopting your healthcare facility to the new requirements, we would be happy to assist.
Al Tamimi & Company’s Healthcare Practice Group Corporate Commercial team regularly advises on healthcare issues in the UAE. For further information please contact Christina Sochacki (C.Sochacki@tamimi.com) or Andrew Fawcett (A.Fawcett@tamimi.com).
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