Dubai Municipality to accredit labs in the UAE

By PMA RASHEED

17 March 2011, The Gulf Today

The Dubai Accreditation Centre (Dac) under Dubai Municipality (DM) has become the first internationally recognised local accreditation body in the UAE and fourth of that kind in the Middle-East region to provide accreditation to laboratories.

According to officials, the Dac will also be able to provide international accreditations for laboratories outside of the UAE. 

The DM and the Dubai Health Authority (DHA) have signed a contract on Wednesday to recognise the accreditation given by the municipality to laboratories in the emirate, said a top DM official.

Hussain Nasser Lootah, director general of the DM, said the Dac, a member of the International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation (ILAC), will issue internationally recognised accreditation to testing and calibration laboratories in Dubai.

“Registered and licensed health establishments in Dubai can obtain internationally recognised accreditations for their laboratories by enhancing the quality of medical services as well as achieving technical excellence. The accreditations will ensure higher quality services at such facilities,” elaborated Lootah.

A top DHA official said that the health regulation department at the authority will add the Dac to the list of approved accreditation centres for labs in the emirate.

Qadhi Saeed Al Murooshid, director general of the DHA, said that an option to get laboratories accredited from a local body will significantly contribute to the healthcare facilitates in Dubai. It’s a cost-saving and convenient option for the health sector in the emirate.

“The DHA will provide high quality healthcare services to our stakeholders along with convenience and ease of services. This initiative will enhance the quality of medical services provided to the residents,” he added.

According to Dr Ramadan Ibrahim, director of health regulation at the DHA, this recognition makes it feasible for the laboratories in Dubai to approach a local accreditation body, which is both cost-effective and ensures a lesser turn-around time.

“The DHA, in future, will also recognise accreditations given by the DM to hospitals, once the civic body fulfils all the required criteria for the same,” he added.