Sharjah Health Authority signs agreement with Korean Ministry of Health and Welfare

Sharjah (WAM): Sharjah Health Authority has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Korean Ministry of Health and Welfare to strengthen cooperation in 13 healthcare areas that support the authority's endeavours to ensure its healthcare services are provided by the best and most advanced international experts. The signing ceremony took place at the Ministry's headquarters in Seoul, where Abdullah Ali Al Mahyan, Chairman of Sharjah Health Authority, and Moon Hyung-pyo, Minister of Health and Welfare in the Republic of South Korea, signed the agreement on behalf of their respective entities in presence of Dr Abdul Aziz Al Muhairi, Director of Sharjah Health Authority and a number of senior officials representing both parties. The MoU was signed after Sharjah Health Authority's visit to leading healthcare organisations in Seoul, such as St. Mary's Hospital and Asan Medical Centre, to get an overview of the services and the latest technologies being utilised by the healthcare sector in South Korea. According to the 11 provisions of the agreement, the Ministry will provide the authority with the best South Korean experts and solutions in public health policy and management, therapy and medication management, methods of healthcare at hospitals including patient referral and medical staff exchange among more. The ministry will, also, support the Authority's skills in hospital management, medical education and training including those provided to medical and technical staffs working at various healthcare providers. Speaking on the occasion, Abdullah Al Mahyan, Chairman of Sharjah Health Authority, said: "The SHA implements its various healthcare projects in the light of its carefully researched strategy aimed at creating an excellent healthcare sector backed by the latest international experts in various healthcare areas, consistent with the unlimited support received from HH Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah. The authority has already made significant strides in this direction, and is moving forward to achieve more forthcoming projects with the aim to achieve the vision of HH the Ruler of Sharjah for this sector." Al Mahyan added: "The agreement with our partners in Ministry of Health and Welfare in South Korea is one of a number of new projects we are extremely proud of. It aims to support the Authority's experience in the fields of management, technology, and training among many more areas. We expect this agreement will be a success and will help upgrade our services in a bid to meet more criteria that make Sharjah eligible to join the global WHO programme Healthy Cities, as one of the first countries in the WHO Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean to apply to be part of the programme." The agreement will enable Sharjah Health Authority to acquire state-of-the-art South Korean technologies in healthcare, medical equipment, information technologies, hospital design and construction, pharmaceutical industries, medical equipment and supplies manufacturing, healthcare education and prevention, research and development in the fields of healthcare, pharmaceutical industries and technology, approval of medical institutions, exchange of information about healthcare, in addition to any prospective cooperation agreed by both parties. Both parties will exchange healthcare delegations, experts and training as well as information and publications about public health and the related laws and regulations. Experts will be exchanged according to the priorities of the respective parties. Conferences and forums will be held and organised as part of the agreement, and direct cooperation between healthcare providers in each country will be encouraged. Access to healthcare services to citizens from each country in the other will be facilitated. Prior to the agreement, both parties exchanged visits and discussions which began at the UAE-Korea Economic Partnership Forum 2013, followed by a visit of a Korean delegation headed by Mr Jung Ho Won, Director of the Bureau of Health Services at the Ministry of Health and Welfare. This agreement culminates these efforts and paves the way for strengthened bilateral relations in the light of the common visions to exchange healthcare experts and support mutual interests. Sharjah Health Authority's most ambitious and prestigious project to date is the Sharjah Healthcare City that has been conceived and designed as per the vision of HH Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme council and the Ruler of Sharjah to transform the Emirate as the most sought after healthcare destination. The primary aim of the Sharjah Healthcare City (SHCC) is to manage an immediate solution for the hospital bed gap that exists in Sharjah, and the Northern Emirates. The City will also enhance the already growing healthcare infrastructure of the Emirate including the world class Sharjah University hospital. It will offer 100% foreign owned investment opportunities for small, medium or larger hospitals, poly clinics, Laboratories, rehabilitation centres, wellness centres, residential units, health clubs, consultancy offices, storage and production units of healthcare equipment and accessories. In addition, it will offer prospective investors the chance to operate under free zone rules and regulations through a single window service system. – Emirates News Agency, WAM