Dubai replaces health chief amid virus surge
The UAE reported record high infections for the 14th consecutive day on Monday
25 January 2021 • 2:30pm
Dubai is determined to keep its tourism-dependent economy open, despite a coronavirus surge
Credit: Shutterstock
Dubai has fired its health chief as the tourism-dependent emirate faces surging coronavirus cases.
Awad Saghir Al Ketbi replaced Humaid al-Qutam as director general of the Dubai Health Authority, the Dubai Media Office announced on Sunday.
No reason was given for the replacement of Mr al-Qutam, who had held the position since 2018, but the United Arab Emirates has reported record high infections for the past 14 days, including a record 3,591 new cases on Monday.
Dubai: His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, on Sunday issued a decree appointing Awad Saghir Al Ketbi as Director General of the Dubai Health Authority (DHA) and Dr. Alawi Alsheikh Ali as Deputy Director General.
Awad Al Ketbi previously served as Assistant Undersecretary for the Support Services Sector at the Ministry of Health and Prevention. He has held many senior leadership positions in Dubai and has significant management experience spanning over 25 years.
Al Ketbi holds a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Schiller International University in the United Kingdom.
Credit: MoHAP
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is on track to launch its National Unified Medical Record (NUMR) platform in 2021, the country’s Ministry of Health and Prevention (MoHAP) has confirmed.
Called Riayati, the NUMR system is set to connect 3,000+ UAE public and private sector healthcare providers, with the aim to be able to efficiently share data in real-time throughout the country. This week, MoHAP announced it is now working with the Department of Health (DoH) Abu Dhabi and the Dubai Health Authority (DHA) to put into place the “final preparations to link Riayati with all other affiliate medical records – including Nabidh and Malaffi.”