Abu Dhabi healthcare facilities accredited by Royal College Canada International as certified medical education institutions

1 Jun, 2023:

The Department of Health - Abu Dhabi, the regulator of the healthcare sector in the Emirate, has announced that Sheikh Khalifa Medical City (SKMC), Sheikh Shakhbout Medical City (SSMC) and Tawam Hospital, all part of the PureHealth Group, have been accredited by Royal College Canada International (RCI), certifying them as the first educational institutions for medical training to be accredited in the UAE. 

Following the accreditation, all three facilities will be able to offer residency and fellowship programmes in accredited medical specialities in Canada to physicians wishing to obtain the Canadian board in the emirate and around the world.

The RCI accreditation reflects the three facilities’ ability to apply the best medical education in accordance with the highest international standards. The facilities’ medical education programmes will provide health professionals with expertise and competencies to continue providing excellent healthcare services in Abu Dhabi, thus cementing the emirate’s position as a leading destination for healthcare.

The Department of Health – Abu Dhabi has indicated that the accreditation of the three facilities by the RCI comes after passing its rigorous evaluation mechanism, reflecting the facilities’ capabilities to adopt the highest standards of medical education, ensuring the quality of training programmes and their outputs and the use of modern technology and e-learning tools in the field.

According to the Department of Health – Abu Dhabi, the number of trainees in the three healthcare facilities reached more than 465 doctors in residency and fellowship specialities in 2022. The residency and fellowship trainees seek to obtain the necessary training in its facilities to advance their career paths towards specialisation in various medical fields approved by the department. Additionally, the Department of Health – Abu Dhabi has succeeded in providing more than 47 specialised programmes in human medicine during 2022, compared to 32 specialities in 2021, with an increase in the number of healthcare facilities accredited as educational institutions providing residency and fellowship programmes, reaching eight facilities in the emirate.

Her Excellency Dr. Noura Al Ghaithi, Undersecretary of the Department of Health – Abu Dhabi, said: "With the accreditation of Sheikh Khalifa Medical City, Sheikh Shakhbout Medical City and Tawam Hospital, we are witnessing a new milestone that is added to Abu Dhabi’s healthcare sector’s long list of achievements, which further cements its position as one of the region’s most advanced and distinguished healthcare systems in the region. This comes as a reflection of our continuous efforts and investments in our healthcare workforce, which has proven to be a beneficial investment, due to its impact on the health and well-being of our community, which will advance the emirate’s healthcare sector and ensure its sustainability."

Dr. Rashed Obaid Alsuwaidi, Executive Director of the Healthcare Workforce Planning at the Department of Health - Abu Dhabi, said: “Attracting and developing talent and competencies in healthcare is one of DoH’s priorities, as we believe in the role of healthcare professionals in improving services and achieving the sector’s ambitious goals. Stemming from that, the Department of Health – Abu Dhabi, is always keen on working side by side with the healthcare facilities within the emirate to provide them and their healthcare professionals with the necessary nurturing and accredited environment and to ensure that they are receiving training and educational medical opportunities in accordance with the highest international standards.”

Dr. Ian Bowmer, Acting Royal College and RCCI’s Chief Executive Officer, said: “We strongly believe that the collaborations we have established with the Department of Health – Abu Dhabi (DoH) and its partners enable us to build stronger healthcare systems, capable of delivering the best healthcare services for all. We are honoured to be part of the UAE’s journey in advancing Postgraduate Medical Education (PGME) and partnering with one of the region’s leading healthcare regulators, and committed teams that is constantly prioritising the wellbeing of the community. Today marks a significant achievement, with the announcement of the first Royal College accredited institutions in the UAE, and we are looking forward to extending this partnership with DoH in the future.”

Rashid Saif Al Qubaisi, Chief Corporate Officer at PureHealth, said: “We are proud of this accreditation that reflect our company’s commitment to invest and empower our healthcare professionals with the highest quality education and training. Through the residency and fellowship programs, we provide physicians with the opportunity to pursue specialisations in accredited medical specialties, including the prestigious Canadian board, right here in Abu Dhabi. The milestone achievement of these facilities not only reinforces our position as the leading healthcare platform in the UAE but also demonstrates PureHealth’s dedication to shaping the future of healthcare in our nation and beyond. We remain dedicated to contributing to the advancement of healthcare professionals and to play a vital role in elevating Abu Dhabi's status as a global hub of healthcare.”

Earlier in 2022, DoH signed an MoU with the RCI, a non-profit organisation that aims to promote and provide programmes and services of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada, which enabled trained doctors in the emirate to benefit from the new training programmes approved in Canada. Additionally, the MoU seeks to provide the opportunity for healthcare professionals in the emirate to enrol in fellowship programmes in Canada, and to benefit from the specialised educational and training opportunities offered by RCI, through a hybrid system that combines physical presence in Canada or in Abu Dhabi. The MoU stipulates enhancing cooperation between the two parties and exchanging experiences and best practices in healthcare, especially medical education trainings for residency and fellowship programmes, scientific research programmes, while advancing innovation in the field of healthcare to improve treatment outcomes and patient experience.