His Excellency Dr. Muhamad Salim Al Olama, Undersecretary, Ministry of Health (MoH), recently held a meeting with His Excellency Michel Miraaa, French Ambassador to the UAE, at the Ministry’s offices in Abu Dhabi to discuss efforts in strengthening cooperation between the UAE and France, especially in the health sector—including the smooth exchange of knowledge and information, development of new health policies and legislation and the implementation of new standards and guidelines concerning the maintenance of health facilities. In addition, the UAE is looking towards learning more from French medical experts, particularly in the field of continuing medical education. Also present at the meeting was Dr. Issa Al Mansouri, Director of International Organizations Department, MoH.

The two parties discussed the possibility of signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the MoH and the Imagine Institute, a research and innovative healthcare institute in Paris aimed towards understanding genetic diseases in order to better treat them. The MoU is also expected to cover the creation of a high-level delegation of UAE medical professionals that will visit various health institutions in France to learn more about the latest medical technologies; visit private health facilities that specialize in heart disease and cancer treatment; facilitate key knowledge transfer on how to respond to health emergencies and crisis; how to maintain world-class laboratories and medical facilities and develop an exchange program where Emirati doctors and medical professionals can pursue higher studies across renowned French medical academic institutions. 

Undersecretary Al Olama shared that the meeting falls in line with the Ministry’s move to create a comprehensive health system, which enhances the sustainability of the country’s health sector while also increasing the efficiency of their medical professional employees—especially in specialized branches of medicine. The efforts are also seen to help improve the university and vocational courses on health and medicine and ensuring the improvement of provided hospital health care in the UAE. 

He further added that the meeting also complements the UAE’s continuing efforts to be at pace with the latest medical treatments that are at par with set international standards and guidelines, which in turn will dramatically increase standards of quality in health care services provided across UAE hospitals. 

Al Olama also pointed out that the successful cooperation between the two countries will result in the creation of highly essential scientific research that can help in the UAE’s campaign against key diseases like Thalassemia, Diabetes and the control of infectious diseases and viruses. He cited the success of the Dubai Biotechnology and Research Centre, which continues to provide the latest, world-class scientific research and development facilities that has been especially designed for the Biotechnology sector, the pharmaceutical industry and medical scientific devices segment.

In response, Ambassador Miraaa praised the UAE’s continuing efforts and achievements in the health sector and expressed the French government’s interest in enhancing mutual cooperation across key areas like the exchange of information and expertise, promotion of medical tourism between France and the UAE, participation in various medical exhibitions and conferences and increase trading activity of medical supplies, pharmaceuticals and equipment through UAE seaports, airports and free zones. 

He pointed to the French supreme body of health which impose high requirements on the quality of the health institutions in order to be accredited. As all institutions meet the standard of hospital infection control called ICALIN, which subject to the annual ranking, been issued concerning the hospital infection control processors.