Session Speaker

A Strategy for Streamlining Health Research in United Arab Emirates
Gohar Wajid
UAE

Promoting health research is one of the corner stones of the Ministry of Health Strategic Plan (2008 - 2010). An efficient Health Research System is imperative to support the national health information system through addressing issues requiring further exploration at the local, regional and international levels.

Health Research Department at the Center for Statistics and Health Research has been established with a vision to promote health research and oversee ethical and technical issues related to health systems as well as clinical research in the country. On one hand the department collaborates with the local health facilities and stakeholders to regulate and promote research in the country and on the other hand it liaisons with international agencies such as the World Health Organization and the Global Forum for Health Research to set national research priorities and play an effective role in the international research arena. The scope of the department includes all kids of research related to healthcare issues, such as clinical research, health systems research, outcomes and effectiveness research and dissemination of research findings to policy makers and decision makers.

The Ministry of Health has developed a strategy to regulate research activities and streamline research process in the country. The cornerstone of strategy is collaboration and cooperation with other stakeholders such as Health Authority for Abu Dhabi, Dubai Health Authority, Dubai Healthcare City and educational institutes in regulating and streamlining research activities in the country.

This presentation highlights the MOH Strategic Plan to establish the direction for health research in the UAE and the role of different stakeholders in conducting health research activities in the country.