Dubai Healthcare City Authority backs opt in to DIFC jurisdiction

Signed today at the Arab Health Exhibition and Congress, the agreement between the Dispute Resolution Authority (DRA) – including DIFC Courts – and Dubai Healthcare City Authority (DHCA), fosters closer ties between the two entities, specifically through utilising the extensive expertise of the DRA in mediation.

This MoU will pave the way to establish a framework for DHCA to benefit from the specialised expertise derived from the successful Small Claims Tribunal (SCT) model, particularly in the area of labour disputes. In 2017 the SCT handled over 300 cases, with a settlement rate of 88% in an average of four weeks. SCT enables smart, quick and amicable settlement of claims up to half a million dirhams, either virtually from a laptop or smartphone via smart SCT, or directly in a courtroom.

Currently Dubai Healthcare City free zone has more than 160 clinical partners including hospitals, outpatient medical centres and diagnostic laboratories, with licensed professionals from almost 90 countries. In addition, there are more than 260 retail and non-clinical facilities and close to 10,000 individuals employed across the freezone.

The collaboration agreement, signed by Mark Beer, OBE, Chief Executive, DRA, and Dr. Ramadan Alblooshi, CEO, Dubai Healthcare City Authority – Regulatory, will also extend to developing legal education and training initiatives for the DHCC through the DIFC Academy of Law.

Mark Beer, OBE, Chief Executive, DRA, said: “Businesses in the region – and the people that work in them – want to feel secure, and certain in the knowledge that they are protected. They want to have, on their doorstep, access to the world's leading healthcare professionals, and the equivalent Courts to keep them safe. Through this collaboration with DHCA, we combine the best in healthcare and in justice, two fundamentals in any society, providing certainty, safety and security for all those living and working in Dubai.”

Dr. Ramadan Alblooshi, CEO, Dubai Healthcare City Authority – Regulatory, said: “Strengthening Dubai Healthcare City Authority’s framework of governance and regulation, we see great value in the collaboration with DIFC Courts and Dispute Resolution Authority. This agreement will benefit members of our community to efficiently resolve matters relating to medical and labour complaints, as well as other civil and commercial disputes. In safeguarding the rights of the DHCC community, DIFC Courts, as part of the judiciary system in Dubai, will provide invaluable support.”

The UAE’s healthcare market is set to surge to more than AED103 billion by 2021 – representing 60% growth over the next five years. According to a recent *report, increased investor interest in emerging sectors such as the cutting-edge medical device market will also play a role in expanding the current AED64 billion market, as will medical tourism and the roll-out of mandatory health insurance.