DHA Health Regulation Department temporarily shuts down four health facilities in 2014

Dubai, United Arab Emirates, 14 December, 2014: Dubai Health Authority recently temporarily shut down four health facilities in 2014, said a top DHA official.

Dr Layla Al Marzouqi, Acting-Director of Health Regulation at the DHA, said: “The four facilities have been temporarily shut down and have been fined for violations that they committed which directly compromise the quality of health services. At the DHA, ensuring that health facilities adhere to health regulations is of vital importance to maintain the quality of health services provided to the public. We cannot compromise of that and therefore stringent action has been taken against the violators.”

The four health facilities that have been shut down include a day-care surgery centre, a plastic surgery clinic, an aesthetics clinic and a dermatology clinic.

Al Marzouqi said: “ The dermatology clinic was only licensed to perform dermatological work but it provided services in other specialties as well. Similarly, the plastic surgery clinic only had a licensed laser hair removal technician but provided other services. The day-care surgery centre, had patients staying for more than 24 hours at the centre, post-surgery. This is not allowed, any surgery which requires post-surgical admission beyond 24 hours must be performed at a hospital only. The aesthetics clinic also violated several protocols.”

She added these facilities breached certain infection control measures, some had unlicensed medications etc.

The DHA regulation department conducted random inspections on these health facilities.

Al Marzouqi said: “During the random inspections, two of the health facilities tried to bride our inspectors. Our inspectors contacted the police and together we caught these facilities red-handed. We are very thankful to our inspectors for their dedication and they were recently felicitated by the DHA.”

She added that in the last quarter of 2014, the DHA Health Regulation Department has taken disciplinary action against certain health professionals as well. The department issued one notification letter, eight warning letters, revoked the license of one health professional and suspended four health professionals.

Al Marzouqi, said: “While the DHA strongly supports investment in healthcare and expansion of health services, providing high-quality health services in line with health regulations is mandatory to ensure provision of high-quality services to the population.”

She also added that customers can lodge their complaint or report of any suspicious activity against any health facility in the emirate by contacting the DHA health regulation department. The health regulation department addresses  all kinds of medical complaints against health facilities in Dubai.
They can email the regulation department at regulation@dha.gov.ae , visit the DHA health regulation office which is located at Business Village (next to the Clock Tower), Building B, 3rd floor, Offices # 332 to 335 or alternatively they may call 800342.