The UAE Ministry of Health (MoH) has announced the opening of its new Training and Development Centre in Sharjah. The opening of the new training facility demonstrates the Ministrys continuous commitment towards achieving its vision of sustainable and comprehensive healthcare services to the people of the UAE. The move also falls in line with the countrys government creativity-lab program, an initiative aimed at adopting creative ideas and transforming them into innovative projects that contribute to advancing the progress of the countrys development, thereby reinforcing the move to position it as one of the best countries in the world by 2021. Established as per world-class standards, the new Training and Development Centers prime objective is to enhance and improve the skills and knowledge of UAE healthcare professionals.

His Excellency (H.E.) Abdul Rahman Bin Mohammed Al Owais, Minister, MoH, said that the opening of the new center reflects the Ministrys efforts to keep up with the latest developments in healthcare and to train healthcare professionals on best healthcare practices and standardswhich will greatly contribute in the MoHs move to raise its standards to excellence in service. The Minister added that the new training and development centre is part of the UAE National Agenda (UAE Vision 2021), providing world-class healthcare services that conform to world-class standards that are rendered by highly trained healthcare professionals.

Awad Al Ketbi, Assistant Undersecretary for Support Services, MoH, said that the new centre will also be training local healthcare professionals on the Ministrys policies and guidelines, internationally adopted healthcare programs, research and evidence based practices that can address the UAEs healthcare needs. Al Ketbi pointed out that all training and development programs will be conducted at the new facility and will also be opened for all healthcare professionals from other government institutions and the private sector as well. He stated that the newly opened facility will cater for both public and private sector, in providing quality learning and development to its entire workforce, and reveal an opportunity to develop an integrated and coordinated service to enable sharing of knowledge in the field of science and medicine.

The Training and Development Centre is includes several organizational units: e-learning & knowledge management, technical training & development, administrative training & development, Graduate & Post-Graduate Studies, administrative & technical support and the office of quality assurance & performance. The facility is equipped with several training rooms, high fidelity skills labs, a computer lab and a theater that can accommodate more than 200 attendees. Courses to be offered include managerial workshops and seminars, specialized Diploma programs, professional training programs for healthcare practitioners, life support programs and simulation programs.

The new Centre will also host the office of the local Committee for Health Specialties. The committee is tasked with coordinating with the General Secretariat of the Arab Council for Health Specialties with regards to the registration of health professionals who are taking various Arab Board certification exams. The committee also facilitates Arab board exams for the state as well.