Abu Dhabi launches new health guidelines

Abu Dhabi has published new guidelines for providers of healthcare services in the emirate.

A new set of policy manuals has been released today by the Health Authority - Abu Dhabi (HAAD), the healthcare regulator, in a bid to improve the standard.

The new guidelines define the roles and responsibilities of the regulator, providers, and insurance companies, news agency WAM reported.

The new regulatory requirements will be phased in over a 12-month period, it added.

According to HAAD, stakeholders should work together to optimise access to high quality, cost-effective healthcare for individuals.

Zaid Al Siksek, CEO of HAAD, said: "The HAAD Policy Manuals Version 1.0 are a major milestone... we have laid down the foundation stone for the regulation of the health system in Abu Dhabi."

He added: "Our vision has guided the course of major reforms of the health system, and the HAAD Policy Manuals provide the necessary regulatory transparency and consistency to steer the course of future system reforms and to support achieving HAAD's mission to ensure reliable excellence in healthcare." 

HAAD said its priorities include increasing private sector investment in healthcare by improving transparency.

The authority added that it will review its new guidelines after six months "with the view to improve and strengthen, where necessary, their scope, effectiveness and enforcement".