The Dubai Healthcare City (DHCC), a health and wellness destination that brings together a wealth of services in healthcare, medical education and research, and GE Healthcare (NYSE: GE) today signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to support human capital development in the regions healthcare sector.

The MoU provides a strategic framework for the two partners to establish world-class healthcare training and education programs for healthcare professionals in Dubai and the region, to be delivered by GE at the Mohammed Bin Rashid Academic Medical Center (MBR-AMC).

Integrating GEs global training expertise, the innovative training partnership will leverage the existing infrastructure of MBR-AMC. Under the terms of the agreement, the partnership will deliver on-site clinical and technical training programs for healthcare professionals at MBR-AMC and also introduce leadership curriculum from GEs world-renowned Crotonville leadership center.

The agreement was signed by Marwan Abedin, CEO of Dubai Healthcare City, and Maher Abouzeid, President & CEO of GE Healthcare for the Middle East and Pakistan at Arab Health 2014, the Middle East and Africas premier healthcare conference being held at the Dubai International Convention Center, from January 27 to 30.

The agreement outlines the scope of the partnership, the roles of the respective partners and the long-term objectives of both organizations. Dr Wajdi Al Daghma, Managing Director - Strategy & Business Development of Dubai Healthcare City along with John Dineen, President & CEO of GE Healthcare and Skander Malcolm, President & CEO of GE Healthcares Eastern and Africa Growth Markets region witnessed the signing of the agreement.

Abedin said: Dubai Healthcare City is mandated to facilitate healthcare, and medical education and research. We strive to work towards the nations priorities in healthcare and education as outlined in the seven-year UAE National Agenda and the Cabinet retreat.

To develop the health sector and prioritise building capacity, we build key partnerships; GE Healthcare is a befitting example. Our partnership with GE Healthcare and DHCCs integrated academic and clinical environment is a shared goal, not only between us, but for the growth of the healthcare sector as a whole.

Abouzeid, President & CEO, GE Healthcare Middle East & Pakistan, said: With over 40 years of presence in the region, GE is committed to promoting the healthcare goals of the region. In line with the UAEs healthcare modernization mandate, we believe that the private sector has an important role to play in building skills capacity, boosting knowledge transfer and further strengthening local healthcare expertize. With proven capabilties and expertize in partnering with global healthcare providers to support human capital development, we are privileged to join hands with Dubai Healthcare City, to support the technical, clinical and leadership training needs of Dubai and the region.

The DHCCs education division prides in its dedicated academic complex Mohammed Bin Rashid Academic Medical Centre, its Al Maktoum Medical Library, and the Khalaf Ahmad Al Habtoor Medical Simulation Centre, which has high-fidelity patient simulators to help health professionals practise life saving skills. The education division also includes the Dubai School of Dental Medicine (DSDM), a specialist dental college for post-graduate dental students.

Through partnerships with prominent medical universities and organisations, MBR-AMC is successfully attracting leading professionals to the UAE to transfer medical knowledge and offer clinical programmes. The MBR-AMC has the infrastructure to become a hub for continuing medical education and medical examinations in the region as well.