Sharjah24: In recognition of its tremendous efforts in the crisis management and emergencies field and its compliance with the international standards, the Ministry of Health and Prevention (MoHAP) has been awarded the Global Conformity Mark (GC-Mark) for crisis management, achieving the platinum category, which is the highest levels of the certification process.

With this certification, the ministry reinforces its pioneering position as one of the long-standing organisations and institutions that apply the best international practices and standards through the provision of proactive plans and programs to ensure business continuity.

Following a rigorous assessment conducted by a multidisciplinary team of DQS (one of the leading certification bodies for management systems worldwide) and IQNet Association assessors, His Excellency Dr. Amin Hussein Al Amiri, the Assistant Undersecretary of the Ministry of Health and Prevention’s Public Health Policy and Licenses received the GC-Mark Certificate “Crisis Management”, in the presence of Dr. Abdul Karim Abdullah Al-Zarouni, Director of the Emergency, Crisis, and Disaster Operations Center, and Fatima Al-Wali, Director of the Strategy and Future Department.

Enhancing quality systems

Lauding the outstanding performance and efforts of MoHAP’s teams, Al Amiri underscored that such prestigious awards help consolidate the UAE’s leading position in the healthcare field and help achieve the ministry’s strategy aimed at strengthening quality systems, therapeutic, health, and pharmaceutical safety in accordance with the highest international standards.

“Obtaining such accreditations and awards confirm the competitiveness of the country’s health facilities and renew the global confidence in the UAE’s healthcare services. On the other hand, this recognition forms a catalyst for us to further proceed with our plans for completing the accreditation of our healthcare facilities in 2021,” he added.

Health system efficiency

Hailing the unlimited support of the wise leadership and its keenness to provide the best capabilities and resources for building an effective and sustainable health system, Al Amiri made it clear that the Ministry of Health will pursue its efforts to launch innovation-based initiatives and solutions, as well as to develop and apply quality standards to cope with the ongoing challenges and reinforce the society's capabilities and empower it to face any future crises.

He pointed to the ministry’s keenness to maintain the UAE gains and its leadership position at the global, thanks to the wise handling and management of Covid-19 crisis, adding: “Such management is yet another testament to the efficiency of the health system and all the concerned bodies that successfully and wisely dealt with the challenges and hazards through the proactive planning. This affirms the UAE’s persistence to maintain its leadership position, irrespective of crises and challenges.”

Proactive plans

Dr. Abdul Karim Abdullah Al-Zarouni pointed out the ministry’s success in obtaining this accreditation in the crisis management is the outcome of the proactive plans to enhance capabilities and competences of health cadres to properly respond to crises and emergencies, prepare qualified and well-trained volunteers to be capable of managing field response process, and to coordinate and exchange information with the concerned bodies as per the best international practices and standards.