Sharjah split rumoured, as emirate breaks MOH bonds

Sharjah is said to be agitating for a split from the Ministry of Health (MoH), in favour of establishing an independent authority to match those seen in sister emirates Dubai and Abu Dhabi.

A government health official told MT that friction over funding has led to suggestions that Sharjah would fare better with an autonomous health regulator.

The ministry insider, who asked not to be named, said Sharjah's hospitals had the heaviest patient burden of all government facilities in the northern emirates, but that this footfall was not reflected in a bigger cut of the nation's healthcare budget.

"The hospitals are keen to improve care, but they don't receive enough funding," he said. "They feel they should get more money because they take the majority of patients."

Under the Ministry of Health's watch, Sharjah hospitals have been plagued by equipment shortages, staff resignations and a series of delays in promised salary increases.

The source suggested that hospital factions are wary the Emirates Health Authority (EHA) - created last year by the MoH to oversee services in the northern emirates - will short-change facilities, so are weighing up the advantages of cutting ties.

"Al Qassimi is the largest hospital under the MoH and the teaching hospital will open later this year," he said. "With this portfolio, there is a good case for independence."

Under the EHA, management of Sharjah's largest facilities has been handed over to Australian consulting firm VHA global.Al Qassimi Hospital has also been appointed as a pilot model for the EHA's decentralisation programme, further fuelling speculation about the emirate's position.

Both the teaching hospital and Al Qassimi now have independent boards of directors and maintain their own budgets.

Rumours of a potential division, however, have been strongly denied by both hospital CEOs, who insist the EHA will remain the governing body. "We are developing more autonomy, but as far as I am aware we will continue to remain part of the Ministry," said Dr Alan Sandford, of Al Qassimi Hospital.

Professor Stan Capp, CEO of Sharjah Teaching Hospital, played down funding rivalries but said; "Anything that can improve the resources and organisation of healthcare in the northern emirates is a welcome addition."