The Department of Health – Abu Dhabi (DoH), the regulator of the healthcare sector in the emirate announced that the emirate’s trainee doctor specialists will have access to Canadian accredited training programs as part of the Abu Dhabi academic healthcare training institutions in addition to increased opportunities for fellowship in Canada. Medical professionals across Abu Dhabi’s sector will also benefit from the hybrid educational and specialized training opportunities offered by Royal College Canada International (RCI) – the international contracting arm of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada (Royal College).
The Agreement was translated through the signing Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between The Department of Health – Abu Dhabi and Royal College Canada International (RCI), a not-for-profit organisation that was created to promote and deliver the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada’s (Royal College) programmes and services within targeted international markets.
The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed by H.E. Dr. Jamal Mohammed Al Kaabi, Undersecretary of DoH and by Dr. Susan Moffatt–Bruce, President and CEO of RCI, and CEO the Royal College. The signing witnessed the attendance of Marcy Grossman, Ambassador of Canada to the United Arab Emirates and Dr. Huda Huda Almuaini, Executive Director of Strategy, and Ms. Laila Al Zubaidi, Division Director Healthcare Workforce Licensing & Medical Education at Department of Health Abu Dhabi.
As per the MoU, both entities will join hands to exchange knowledge and share best practices in the field of healthcare especially in postgraduate medical education, research, and healthcare practice innovation in order to elevate patient experience and improve medical outcomes. Both entities will facilitate conversations and exchange experiences that support in setting standards for postgraduate medical education, and family medicine. Furthermore, the MoU seeks to improve access to sub-specialisation and fellowship training opportunities in Canadian programmes for postgraduate medical trainees at Abu Dhabi’s institutions. In addition, the MoU will promote access to the cross-training of postgraduate medical specialists in both Canadian and Abu Dhabi academic healthcare training institutions with accredited status from the Royal College.
H.E. Dr. Jamal Mohammed Al Kaabi, Undersecretary of DoH, said: “Under the directives of our wise leadership, the Department of Health – Abu Dhabi (DoH) continues to collaborate with leading regional and international partners to strengthen the healthcare sector in Abu Dhabi and provide the best medical practices to all members of the community. We are proud to join forces with Royal College Canada International to share expertise and best practices and provide our healthcare professionals with world-class resources and knowledge exchange opportunities. We are confident that with collaboration comes great achievements and celebratory milestones in both countries.”
Dr. Rashed Obaid Al Suwaidi, the Executive Director of Healthcare Workforce Planning Sector at DoH, said: “At DoH, we continue to move forward to achieve our mission for “A Healthier Abu Dhabi” which tackles one of our main priorities that is continued investment in medical education and our human capital. Medical education is undeniably an important pillar to ensure our healthcare workers continue to work together and collaborate as one team with the common goal of maintaining the safety our community and taking the healthcare sector to new heights. Despite the challenges imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic, we remain dedicated to upskilling our healthcare professionals and working alongside local and international academic institutions to expand the scale of continuous medical education opportunities, making use of modern technologies and e-learning tools.”
Dr. Susan Moffatt-Bruce said: “We very much look forward to working with the Department of Health and its affiliated institutions on their continued journey to advance postgraduate medical education in Abu Dhabi. Several years in discussion and co-creation, this collaborative opportunity and the formalization of ideas and plans are very exciting. As a leader in specialty medical education that advances learning for residents and specialist physicians to deliver the best health care for all, we are in a unique position to support Abu Dhabi’s Department of Health and their many partners.”
Royal College Canada International (RCI), also known as Royal College International (RCI) — is a wholly controlled organisation that was created to promote and deliver Royal College programmes and services within targeted international markets. RCI conducts international outreach by forming academic collaborations with organisations sharing the Royal College’s mission: to continually improve postgraduate medical education (PGME) training. Programmes are delivered by both RCI staff and contracted Fellows from the Royal College who are selected based on their experience and expertise within their fields.
Source: Department of Health Abu Dhabi