ADCMC and DoH Unveil New Business Continuity Standard for Abu Dhabi Healthcare

Abu Dhabi: The Emergencies, Crises and Disasters Management Centre - Abu Dhabi (ADCMC), in partnership with the Department of Health - Abu Dhabi (DoH), has launched the Abu Dhabi Standard for Healthcare Business Continuity. This initiative was revealed during the Annual Business Continuity and Alternative National Service Forum - Murona, held at Erth Hotel, Abu Dhabi. According to Emirates News Agency, this new standard is a significant step in Abu Dhabi's ongoing efforts to establish itself as a leader in business continuity practices globally. It provides a comprehensive framework aimed at enhancing the business continuity management system for healthcare services across the emirate. By minimizing the impact of disruptions, the benchmark is designed to support the resilience of the healthcare sector, safeguard patient safety, and ensure seamless service delivery. The newly introduced standard focuses on ensuring the continuity of healthcare and emergency medical services across Abu Dhabi. It emphasizes timely and uninterrupted responses to critical emergencies through effective coordination. The standard aims to minimize disruptions from emergencies, crises, and disasters, thereby enhancing safety and service continuity from pre-hospital services to diagnostics and treatment. Matar Saeed Al Nuaimi, Director-General of ADCMC, highlighted the center's commitment to advancing emergency, crisis, and disaster management systems. He stressed the importance of integrated standards ensuring essential service continuity and patient safety under all circumstances, in alignment with Abu Dhabi's strategic vision for emergency preparedness. Dr. Noura Khamis Al Ghaithi, Under-Secretary of DoH, credited the emirate's healthcare ecosystem for its readiness and resilience in crisis situations. She acknowledged the collaboration between the Department of Health, Abu Dhabi Public Health Centre, and ADCMC in launching the new standard which will strengthen the operational resilience of healthcare facilities across the emirat e. Furthermore, the Department of Health - Abu Dhabi recently inaugurated the Unified Medical Operations Command Centre (UMOC), marking a global first. This centre will enhance cooperation among stakeholders, serving as a hub for emergency management and strengthening the emirate's emergency preparedness and response capabilities. The Abu Dhabi Standard for Business Continuity in Healthcare Activities applies to all healthcare providers, taking into account their specific operational environments. It focuses on improving response times and the capability to handle emergencies and crises impacting social systems. ADCMC continues to reinforce Abu Dhabi's adaptability and preparedness through studies and collaborative efforts to enhance crisis response capabilities. This includes joint drills, exercises, and infrastructure development to ensure rapid and effective responses to future challenges.