Abu Dhabi Has Been Busy

Abu Dhabi has been busy reforming its health system since 2001 with its inception of the General Authority for Health Services (GAHS). Until then, healthcare had been largely managed by the government who had controlled it by a share of 55%. Stimulus for reforming the health system came from the fact that a large population of the UAE (approximately 62,000 in the first 7 months of 2006 alone (UAE, 2007)) were seeking medical treatment in other countries, particularly in Thailand, resulting in huge leakage of profit from the local medical facilities.

The GAHS, therefore, determined to place the health sector under the directive of the private sector with the government involved only in a peripheral manner and then only in the realms of preventative medicine and in remote areas (UAE, 2007). Their reform was accomplished in an incremental gradual manner, by first introducing reputed international companies into the field so that they could have an impact on the system before privatizing the system, and regulating it so that Abu Dhabi's health system could compete on an international arena.

Other elements of reform included the introduction of mandatory medical coverage as well as the introduction and expansion of new medical facilities. Objectives of Abu Dhabi's Health Authority for the coming three years (until 2014) are to fill gaps in insurance coverage; improve medical outcome; continue monitoring for quality; improve health professional education; improve public health; improve its customer services; increase private sector investment; automate internal processes; prepare itself for emergencies; and develop a quality workforce (HAAD, Strategy).

The GAHS resolves to provide health treatment to all residents of Abu Dhabi (HAAD, Mission) and envisions a flexible financial system that operates according to change. Obstacles to reform -- and some of these still exist - include the shortage of qualified medical personnel. This problem is particularly acute given Abu Dhabi's ambition in competing with world reputed medical centers such as those in America and Australasia, whose countries have a far greater density of qualified health-care professionals.

The ratio of health care professionals in the Middle East to that of North America are 4.66 individuals per 100 individuals to 41.7 in the States (UAE, 2007). Even today, despite the influx of new healthcare professionals since 2007, "it is estimated that up to 5,000 additional doctors and 6,500 nurses will be required by 2019" (HAAD Health Statistics, 2009). This means that some 1,600 doctors and almost 1,800 nurses will need to be recruited annually. Another problem, reflecting the dramatic growth is the need for another 2000 beds (beyond the current 3,642 beds) over the next ten years.

The Abu Dhabi Health Authority (ADHD), however, intends to overcome those obstacles by continuing to train its locals, and by envisioning an influx of professionals with the emergence of top-notch institutions such as John Hopkins and the Cleveland Clinic, which have agreed to set up operations in Abu Dhabi (UAE, 2007). ADHD seems to have accomplished some of its objectives.

According to its Investor Highlights (HAAD Health Statistics, 2009), mandatory insurance coverage introduced by Expatriates and Thiqa for Nationals caused significant increase in 2007 in the population seeking local health care whilst "demand for health services in the Emirate stabilized in 2009" and more hospitals and home cares services (including homes for the aged) obtained licenses (HAAD Health Statistics, 2009). The forecast for Abu Dhabi's health system seems chirpy and optimistic.

There are still some challenges to work through such as reducing waiting time that can be lengthy in some departments particularly in pediatrics and gynecology (HAAD Health Statistics, 2009), but the ADHD has achieved tremendous growth within the last few years and expects a similar trajectory of growth in the future.

In 210, the ADHD opened up a new branch called the Abu Dhabi Health Services Company (SEHA) that provides prevention instruction as well as chronic disease management and individual screening to 12 hospitals, 62 ambulatory and primary health care clinics and 2 blood banks in Abu Dhabi (Zawya, 2010). Future plans include additional screening alerts as well as adult vaccination and.