United Arab Emirates -  March 07, 2021:   In recognition of its success in the implementation of the Effective Governance Management Systems based on trust, accountability, transparency, and fair practices, the Ministry of Health and Prevention (MoHAP) has been awarded the Governance Specification Certification (BS13500) from the British Standards Institute (BSI).

With this certification, the Ministry of Health secures its position and enhances its leadership in the application of the best international standards in the field of corporate governance.

Following a rigorous audit process by BSI’s international jury, Theuns Kotzé, Managing Director BSI, IMETA Assurance, handed over the certificate to His Excellency Dr. Mohamed Salim Al Olama, Undersecretary, Ministry of Health and Prevention (MOHAP), at the premises of the ministry in Dubai, in the presence of Aisha Al Mansouri, Director of the Governance Department, MoHAP, and Ammar Hasan, Director of Business Development, BSI.

Journey to Excellence

Congratulating the employees on this achievement, Al Olama underlined that this is part of the ministry’s ongoing journey to institutional excellence and development in accordance with the highest international standards, adding “Such awards are yet another testament to the ministry’s efficient performance and its quest to further enhance healthcare services. This is manifested in the ministry’s constant development to its institutional performance, strengthening of health sector governance concept to help sustain and upgrade services, improvement of health services quality, implementation of governance standards, and shaping of effective health policies.”   

Al Olama made it clear that MoHAP always encourages governance research and the role of laws and legislation in enhancing governance in the management of health institutions, in addition to using the appropriate tools for measuring the performance and governance of the health system, thus protecting patients and medical staff within an institutional framework governed by quality.

Theuns Kotzé said: “In today’s fast-paced environment, customers are more demanding and competition more intense. Delivering effective governance is more crucial than ever for the survival and achievement of long-term objectives. Adopting an internationally recognized Effective Governance Management System (EGMS) demonstrates MOHAP’s commitment to raising the bar in how their organization is governed as well as enhance their organizational performance. On behalf of BSI, I would like to congratulate the entire MoHAP team on this fantastic achievement.”

Integrated governance system

For her part, Aisha Al Mansouri said: “Being the UAE’s first health authority to obtain the BSI Certification in the Effective Governance Management Systems, this clearly reflects the Ministry’s commitment to implementing and an integrated governance system, as part of our strategy and operational plans to strengthen the practices based on scientific and institutional evidence.” 

“This would help ensure the application of transparency in the work of health facilities and the implementation of international standards to achieve the requirements of effective governance, enhance the competitive capabilities of the health care sector, achieve sustainability and health security, develop medical policies, procedures, protocols, and best practices, implement quality and governance standards to improve services provided in health institutions, and enhance patient safety, thus reinforcing the UAE’s status and reputation as a leading country regionally in the field of corporate governance in the health sector,”  Al-Mansouri concluded.