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Exclusive
Interview | Dubai |
January 7, 2007
EMA keeps its flag flying high
By Debasree
S., Contributing Editor
(ArabMedicare.com) The Emirates Medical Association (EMA) will play a crucial role in
defining the scientific program and regulating the number of medical
conferences and seminars held in Dubai.
The newly-elected President of the EMA, Dr. Abdul Rahim Mostafawi, in
an exclusive interview with ArabMedicare.com, has recommended that the
EMA team up with the Ministry of Health, Dubai Department of Health and
Medical Services (DOHMS) and the Abu Dhabi Health Authority to issue
clear guidelines regarding the number of major health conferences that
are to be held in Dubai throughout the year, while determining the theme
and the subject matter of the scientific programs, the issues debated at
panel discussions, papers presented and their significance in the local
milieu.
"Medicine is not merely business. Yet medical seminars and
conferences are too commercialized these days. We want to stop this
misuse, and evaluate how and if they are actually benefiting the UAE
medical fraternity," Dr. Mostafawi told ArabMedicare.com.
A non-profit semi-government organisation operating under the
umbrella of the UAE Ministry of Social Affairs, the EMA -- which has
grown from a mere 38-member body in 1981 to a whopping 2,900-member
association -- will help constitute a central coordination committee
that will be entrusted with the task of the regulating medical
conferences and seminars.
"We have put forth the proposal to different UAE health
authorities and we hope to set up this committee very soon,"
highlighted Dr Mostafawi, an UAE national and regarded as one of the
country's most reputed pediatric surgeons. "There should not be
more than 12 medical conferences held very year with a pre-approved
scientific program, workshops and controlled panel discussions."
Even while the Dubai Convention Bureau of the Department of Tourism
and Commerce Marketing (DTCM) continues to promote Dubai as a major MICE
(meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions) destination, urging
international event organizers and corporates to chose Dubai as their
venue for conferences and meetings, the EMA has clarified that the
scientific program of all conferences must be placed under its scrutiny.
The Emirates is also looking at developing a medical code of conduct
that all UAE doctors need to adhere to by making its membership
mandatory for all doctors in the private and public domain. Currently
only private doctors practicing in the UAE are required to be members of
the EMA. "We want to bring in all the government doctors as
well," Dr. Mostafawi said while adding that it is the usual
international practice.
Compulsory membership of the EMA, will not only help the association
to strengthen its position but also determine the quality of medical
ethics in the country.
Under a new programme being chalked out by the EMA, the association
will partner with the medical university in Al Ain to provide credit
hours to doctors under the Continuous Medical Education (CME) programme.
All registered doctors practicing in the UAE will have to undergo these
CMEs to renew their licenses and qualify themselves for promotions
within their jobs.
The EMA is also involved in conducting public awareness programs and
offers legal assistance to doctors defending medical malpractice claims
in the country. However with the Medical Malpractice law coming into
effect very soon, representatives of EMA will be among the central
committee members that will investigate into medical malpractice cases.
Most significantly, the EMA is currently in talks with the different
health departments to establish itself as the exclusive authority for
validating doctors' international degrees and certificates. "There
are doctors from different parts of the world who practice here in the
UAE and they should send in their degrees to be validated by the EMA.
This will help us to keep a more stringent control over the private
medical practice in the UAE."
In its vision and mission statement, the EMA says: "If we fail
to plan then we are planning to fail." Remaining true to its
vision, the EMA President, Dr. Abdul Rahim Mostafawi, has grandiose
plans up his sleeves, the fulfillment of which will ensure that the flag
of this 25-year-old association keeps flying high.
Source: ArabMedicare.com
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Dr. Abdul Rahim Mostafawi, newly-elected President of the
Emirates Medical Association
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Proposal
to define scientific
