Dubai, October 23, 2014 - ASIATODAY.COM - Excellence in health services and overall patient experience are key components for medical tourism in Dubai, said a top health official.
Dr Layla Al Marzouqi, Acting Director of Health Regulation at the Dubai Health Authority said during the 1st Health Regulations Conference that Dubai has a strong health regulatory framework which is a key component to ensure health facilities and professionals are adhering to high standards of health care and that patients are protected.
She added that a robust health system is in itself a catalyst for medical tourism.
Al Marzouqi said Dubai is looking at two main components in its medical tourism strategy – a strong regulatory framework and excellence in patient experience.
In terms of regulations, Al Marzouqi said: “ In addition to all the health regulations that are in place, those health care facilities that want to be a part of the medical tourism initiative will have to be rated to ensure they are up to the mark on several parameters including number of translators they have etc.
Hospitals will be rated based on their performance and hospitality services related to medical tourism. The rating will be a star rating system, similar to that followed by hotels. The medical tourism office in collaboration with quality consultants and the Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing( DTCM) will look into detailed aspects of every health facility. For example, health facilities need to provide us details of the specialties they would like to promote, the details of the doctors who will provide those specialties, the number of procedures they have conducted etc. All this information will be re-verified with the DHA health regulation office as part of the secondary verification check. In addition to medical facilities, we will also evaluate hospitals on the basis of the comfort and ease they provide patients. This includes checking whether they have translators, chauffer services etc., which will all be part of the medical tourism package. At the end of the day, it’s about providing both excellence and quality in medical service.
Linda Abdullah, head of medical tourism office at Dubai Health Authority, said: “DHA is working with a number of stakeholders to ensure medical tourists receive a holistic experience. DHA is working in close cooperation with the government and private medical sector, Emirates Holidays, DTCM etc. Presently, at the conference, we have launched several domestic medical tourism packages with discounted rates. The first phase of rolling out these packages for tourists, will be for GCC tourists, in collaboration with Emirates holidays. Post the conference, these packages, will be available on Emirates Holidays website for GCC tourists and later on the medical tourism portal once it goes live.”
Abdullah, added: “We are working with our stakeholders to tailor-make comprehensive packages for medical tourism. This includes several convenient services for patients and their families such as Marhaba service at the airport, hotel-airport transfer, chauffer driven services, translators at the health facilities, hotel accommodations, cultural programs and sightseeing etc.”
His Excellency Warawudh Chuwiruch, Ambassador of Thailand to the UAE, discussed during the conference the importance of comprehensive promotion of tourism as one of the key factors for the success of medical tourism in Thailand. He said: “ Thailand’s medical tourism packages are all-inclusive. Foreign patients are provided with airport-hotel transfers, accommodation and meals, and cultural activities such as visits to temples, floating markets, traditional Thai dancing shows, elephant and crocodile farms, and beautiful coral coasts. So when the patient stays at the hospital, her family and friends can enjoy sightseeing, shopping, eating delicious Thai food and etc. In other words, it is an ideal destination to combine medical and tourism leisure.”
His Excellency Cheong Ming Foong, Consul-General of the Republic of Singapore in Dubai discussed the importance of providing patients and their family members with a comfortable environment and hospital stay.
He stated the example of Raffles Hospital in Singapore during his speech and said: “ Middle Eastern inpatients are to recuperate in a setting familiar to home with the availability of the Middle Eastern private rooms in Raffles Hospital. These rooms have been specially designed with the patients’ needs in mind. They come with prayer amenities such as prominently displayed Qibla, Quran, prayer mats; Arabic media and entertainment; comfortable environment for accompanying family members or visitors; and even a menu with wide variety of Arabic cuisine. In addition, Raffles Hospital also offers Arabic concierge services for the patient and their companions. These services include medical translation services, medical appointments and airport pick-ups and transfers among many others. Cultural practices of Middle Eastern patients are also considered here, with these services being conducted by both male and female Arab staff. All these factors are important components of the medical tourism experience.”
Suzan Mounzer
Tel: +971 43624717
E-mail: suzan.mounzer@index.ae
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