The agreements with CHA Gangnam Medical Centre, Ewha Woman’s University Medical Centre, Severance Hospital and Wooridul Hospital aim to raise the quality of health care services provided in Abu Dhabi through knowledge exchange and expertise, and improving medical personnel qualifications on both sides.
Zaid Al Siksek, CEO of HAAD, signed the agreements in the presence of Mohammed Al Hameli, Chairman of HAAD and Chemin Rim, Korean Minister of Health and Welfare (MoHW) during the Medical Korea in Abu Dhabi Workshop.
The workshop was held to present the excellence of Korean medical technology and to raise general awareness on Korea’s advanced medical services including organ transplantation, cancer and cardiovascular centres, among others.
“Today’s agreement signing reflects the strong business ties between the UAE and the Republic of Korea in all areas and specifically in the healthcare sector,” said Al Hameli. This brings the number of agreements signed between HAAD and Korea to eight following the Memorandum of Understanding signed by the two parties in March 2011.
In November 2011, HAAD also signed hospital service agreements with Samsung Seoul Hospital, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul St. Mary’s Hospital, and ASAN Medical Centre in Korea.
According to the Ministry of Health and Welfare (MoHW) of Korea, the number of patients admitted at Korean hospitals from abroad has been increasing. Middle East patients alone reached 1,821 last year, a 91 per cent increase from 949 patients in 2010.
Minister Chemin Rim emphasised that Korea and the UAE have been working together in the healthcare field as partners with expectations to expand the level of cooperation, which will lead to the benefit of both nations.
The Minister added that Korea will support to create a foreign patient-friendly environment so that patients from Abu Dhabi will feel at home when visiting Korea for medical treatment.
