Your Comprehensive Guide to Health Authority of Abu Dhabi (HAAD)

Abu Dhabi is known for maintaining high health standards for its residents. The regulatory body overseeing these standards is the Health Authority of Abu Dhabi (HAAD), now known as the Department of Health (DOH). The DOH ensures that healthcare services across the Emirate meet quality and safety standards. It monitors the health status of the population, enforces health regulations, and promotes best practices among healthcare providers.

Key Takeaways

What is HAAD?

The Health Authority of Abu Dhabi (HAAD) is now known as the Department of Health (DOH). It is the regulatory body responsible for overseeing the healthcare sector in Abu Dhabi. It aims to provide high-quality healthcare services by defining and implementing strategies for the Abu Dhabi health system. 

The DOH’s primary responsibilities include setting healthcare standards, inspecting and enforcing these standards, and encouraging healthcare providers to adopt world-class practices. Additionally, the DOH focuses on increasing awareness about healthy living among residents and regulates the scope of services, insurance premiums, and reimbursement rates within the healthcare system.

The HAAD’s mission is to provide both preventive and curative healthcare services to keep the community at its healthiest both physically and mentally. This comprehensive approach guarantees that all residents have access to high-quality healthcare services, which contributes to the overall well-being of the population.

What is the Difference between HAAD and DOH?

You might encounter the terms HAAD and DOH and wonder if they refer to different entities. 

As mentioned earlier, HAAD (Health Authority of Abu Dhabi) and DOH (Department of Health) refer to the same organisation. The name was changed from HAAD to DOH to better reflect its role and functions. 

The transition happened in 2018, and the change aimed to align the organisation more closely with its mission and the evolving healthcare sector in Abu Dhabi​. 

What are the Core Values of HAAD?

Values are the foundational principles that influence decision-making, policy formation, and the overall approach to healthcare governance. The HAAD or DOH upholds several core values that reflect its commitment to delivering exceptional healthcare services and promoting a healthy community.

1. Commitment to Society: The primary motive of HAAD is to meet the healthcare needs and expectations of Abu Dhabi's residents. It involves actively engaging with the community to ensure that healthcare services are accessible, equitable, and responsive to public health needs.
2. Creativity and Innovation: The DOH encourages creative thinking and continuous improvement in healthcare services. It continuously adopts new technologies and practices that improve healthcare delivery and outcomes.
3. Accountability: Accountability is about confirming that all actions and decisions are transparent and responsible. The DOH holds itself and its partners accountable for maintaining high standards and delivering quality healthcare services.
4. Integrity and Trust: Integrity involves maintaining honesty and adhering to ethical standards in all activities. Trust is built through consistent, reliable actions that align with the HAAD policies and ethical guidelines. 
5. Excellence: The DOH strives for excellence by promoting a culture of continuous improvement and high performance. This value drives the organisation to set and achieve high standards in all aspects of healthcare service delivery.
6. Teamwork: Teamwork is about promoting a collaborative and supportive working environment. The HAAD values the contributions of all stakeholders, including employees, partners, and the community, to achieve common healthcare goals.

What are the Services Available on the HAAD Website?

HAAD provides a wide range of services to different segments of the community. These services are categorised under Public, Facilities, Professionals, and Insurance. 

Here is a detailed explanation of each category along with a table listing the specific services —

Public Services

Public services encompass various essential health-related processes available to the general public. These include managing vital records, healthcare eligibility assessments, and service requests.

Facilities Services

Facility services include various licensing and management processes for healthcare facilities to provide compliance and high standards.

Professionals Services

Professional services involve the licensing, certification, and professional management of healthcare providers.

Insurance Services

Insurance services involve the management and regulation of health insurance schemes.

What is a HAAD License (DOH License)?

The HAAD licence, now known as the DOH licence, is a mandatory certification for healthcare professionals and facilities operating in Abu Dhabi. This licence ensures that all healthcare providers meet the stringent standards set by the Department of Health Abu Dhabi (DOH) to deliver safe and effective medical care. 

To obtain a DOH licence, healthcare professionals must submit their educational and professional credentials, pass relevant exams, and comply with continuous professional development requirements. 

Healthcare facilities, on the other hand, must meet rigorous infrastructure and operational standards to be licensed. This process is important for maintaining the high quality of healthcare services in the Emirate so that both professionals and facilities adhere to best practices and regulatory standards.

What are the Initiatives and Programs by HAAD?

The Department of Health Abu Dhabi (DOH) implements various programs and initiatives to improve healthcare services and outcomes for residents. 

Mentioned below are the key programs and initiatives. 

Programs and Campaigns

1. Tawteen: Tawteen is focused on increasing the employment of UAE nationals in the healthcare sector. It provides support and opportunities for Emiratis to join and excel in healthcare roles​. 
2. Centre of Excellence: Establishing specialised healthcare centres that deliver high-quality care in specific medical fields, this program promotes the best practices and innovative treatment methods. 
3. Organ Donation: The Organ Donation program encourages residents to register as organ donors and raises awareness about the importance of organ donation in saving lives​. 
4. Primary Care: Primary Care is the initial point of contact for healthcare, which provides comprehensive and continuous care across all ages. It includes preventive services, chronic disease management, and health education​. 
5. AAMEN: AAMEN focuses on cybersecurity and information security within the healthcare sector. It protects the patient data and complies with privacy standards​.
6. Muashir: Muashir is a healthcare quality index that measures and promotes high standards of care across healthcare facilities in Abu Dhabi. It improves patient experiences and excels in effective healthcare delivery​. 
7. Medical Education: The Medical Education program supports continuous professional development for healthcare workers through accredited training and education opportunities. 

Initiatives

1. Medical Tourism: This initiative promotes Abu Dhabi as a destination for medical tourism, attracting patients from around the world to receive high-quality healthcare services in the Emirate​. 
2. Malaffi: Malaffi is an electronic health information exchange platform that facilitates the secure sharing of patient data among healthcare providers. 
3. Research and Innovation Center: The Research and Innovation Center supports clinical and translational research to advance medical knowledge and improve healthcare practices. It encourages innovation in medical treatments and healthcare technologies​. 

DOH Portal — Meaning and Uses

The DOH portal is an online gateway that offers various healthcare services, regulatory functions, and information to the public, healthcare facilities, professionals, and insurance providers. It serves as a digital hub for accessing healthcare services, managing licences, and staying informed about health regulations and updates in Abu Dhabi.

How to Register on the DOH Portal?

To register on the DOH portal, follow these steps — 

1. Visit the DOH Website: Go to DOH Abu Dhabi.
2. Create an Account: Click on the ‘Sign In’ or ‘Register’ button and fill in the required details such as your name, email, and contact information.
3. Verify Your Email: Check your email for a verification link and follow the instructions to verify your account.
4. Complete Registration: Log in to the portal using your credentials and complete any additional registration steps as prompted.

How to Access Your DOH Account?

Once registered, you can access your account by — 

1. Logging In: Enter your username and password on the DOH portal login page.
2. Dashboard: Once done, you will be directed to your user dashboard. Here, you can manage your profile, access services, and view notifications.

What is TAMM Platform?

The TAMM platform is a unified digital portal launched by the Abu Dhabi government as part of its digital transformation efforts. It provides residents, citizens, visitors, and businesses with seamless access to a wide range of government services in one place. 

TAMM, which means ‘comprehensive’ in Arabic, integrates services from over 30 government entities and numerous private sector providers. It offers more than 700 services across various sectors.

Key Features of the TAMM Platform

1. TAMM integrates services from multiple government entities, including housing, education, health, business services, and more. 
2. The platform offers personalised services and alerts such as reminders for payment deadlines and notifications about upcoming expirations of important documents like Emirates ID and driver’s licence.
3. TAMM includes a secure payment hub that helps you pay various bills simultaneously. 
4. The platform features live video chat support. It helps users to receive real-time assistance from customer service agents.

Registering on the TAMM Platform

1. Visit the TAMM Website: Go to TAMM Abu Dhabi.
2. Create an Account: Use your UAE PASS to register by entering your registered mobile number, email address, or Emirates ID.
3. Verification: Follow the instructions to verify your account and complete the registration process.
4. Access Services: Log in to access and manage various government services through your personalised dashboard.

What is the Difference Between DOH Portal and TAMM Platform?

The DOH (Department of Health) portal and the TAMM platform are interconnected. While the DOH portal specifically caters to healthcare-related services and regulatory functions, many of its services are accessible through the broader TAMM platform.