Emirates Health Services has received programmatic accreditation from the UAE Board, through the National Institute for Health Specialties, for a Clinical Fellowship Programme in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and a Residency Programme in Mental Health Nursing, after both programmes fulfilled all academic, training, and clinical standards.
Dr Abdulaziz Al Zarooni, Executive Director of the Financial Sector and Support Services at Emirates Health Services, said the accreditation of the two programmes reflects the institution's success in building an integrated system for developing national health competencies, within a strategic approach anchored in sustainable investment in human capital as a key enabler of the health sector's sustainability and future readiness.
He noted that the institution continues to direct its investments towards specialised programmes of national priority, in alignment with the country's targets to consolidate an advanced knowledge- and innovation-based healthcare model, and to prepare qualified cadres capable of leading the future of healthcare and efficiently meeting the evolving needs of society.
Dr Layla Omran Trim, Head of the Medical Education Department at the Training and Development Centre of Emirates Health Services, affirmed that this achievement represents a new strategic milestone in the institution's journey towards consolidating an integrated system of specialised health education.
She said it reflects the institution's commitment to developing accredited training programmes in accordance with the highest national and international standards, contributing to the preparation of qualified national cadres who possess the scientific and clinical competencies needed to meet the growing demands of the health sector and to enhance the readiness of mental health services as one of the key pillars of the future healthcare system.
The achievement carries additional national significance in that these programmes are led by specialised Emirati professionals. Hessa Abdulqader Ibrahim, Assistant Director for Nursing Affairs at Al Amal Psychiatric Hospital, heads the Residency Programme in Mental Health Nursing.
Dr Mishal Sultan, Consultant in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry at Al Amal Psychiatric Hospital, leads the Clinical Fellowship Programme in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry.
The latter is considered one of the highly specialised programmes aimed at preparing physicians capable of meeting the mental health service needs of this age group in the United Arab Emirates.
The accreditation of both programmes follows Emirates Health Services' success in satisfying a comprehensive set of standards covering the quality of academic content, the efficiency of the training environment, excellence in clinical practice, and the effectiveness of governance systems.