The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has aimed to develop a world class healthcare system emulating the highest standards of the USA healthcare system, in both public and private sectors. The UAE has one of the highest numbers of internationally accredited hospitals found in any country of the world. Sharjah now has a new JCI Accreditation.

Sharjah - The Third Emirate of the UAE

Sharjah is the third most populous emirate of the seven emirates which make up the state of the United Arab Emirates. but has typically lagged behind its larger neighbours, Abu Dhabi and Dubai, in the development of most economic sectors and services.

It has, like the others, a healthcare service comprised of public and private facilities, which effectively caters to its population of Emiratis and expatriate workers, but has received little attention for medical innovation or quality of service. Part of that is due to its hospital facilities being smaller than those of Dubai and Abu Dhabi with fewer well known "brands" operating in the private sector. The public sector hospitals and clinics have offered less integrated, more fragmented services. However, that is gradually changing with the implementation of new projects within the public sector to enhance the quality of its services and secure recognition.

Emirates Health Services (EHS)

Emirates Health Services is a government organisation which operates 137 healthcare facilities in the Emirates of Sharjah, Fujairah and Ras Al Kaimah including hospitals, public health centres, Malaria Treatment Centres, Dental Clinics and Fitness Assessment Centres.

Khorfakken Hospital, Al Qassimi Hospital and Al Qassimi Hospital for Women and Children are other EHS hospitals which have undergone successful JCI accreditation.

Al Qassimi Women & Children Hospital:  JCI Accreditation Hospital Program since 20 December 2018

Al Qassimi Hospital: JCI Accreditation Hospital Program since 07 December 2018

Certified Programmes:

• Acute Myocardial Infarction (AMI) Program Certified Since 08 September 2020
• Bariatric Surgery Program Certified Since 10 September 2020
• Management of Advanced Atrioventricular Block Certified Since 06 January 2021

Khorfakkan Hospital: JCI Accreditation Hospital Program Accredited Since 01 October 2020

The Kuwait Hospital Sharjah

The Kuwait Hospital Sharjah is owned and operated by Emirates Health Services as a public hospital. Originally established in 1968 as a centre for respiratory diseases, it was transformed into a general hospital in 1984, encompassing various medical specialties, including obstetrics and gynaecology and paediatrics. It provides comprehensive primary and specialized healthcare services, both emergency and elective. The hospital is distinguished by having the largest specialized isolation ward in the emirate among the healthcare facilities under the Emirates Health Services organization. It obtained international accreditation from the JCI in 2021​ and also received ISO accreditation from the Dubai Accreditation Center (DAC) for Conformity Assessment Management​

Its services comprise:

• Accident and Emergency services
• Intensive Care and Anaesthesia
• ENT
• Ophthalmology
• Dermatology
• Internal diseases
• General surgery
• Orthopaedics
• Cardiovascular diseases
• Digestive and endoscopic
• Infectious diseases
• Respiratory and chest diseases
• Psychological and Neurological diseases
• Obesity surgery
• Plastic surgery
• E-clinic Services
• Physiotherapy services
• Radiology services
• Pharmacy services
• Laboratory services
• Nutrition services
• Central sterilization centre.

The services are free of charge for all UAE nationals with governmental health insurance. The hospital accepts MOH health insurance cards & a wide range of health insurance providers. Fees may apply for non-UAE nationals without health insurance.

Joint Commission International Accreditation

The prestigious Joint Commission International (JCI) Accreditation is awarded by the international division of the Joint Commission of the United States of America which assesses and approves hospital services and facilities outside the USA to the same standards as defined by the Joint Commission of the USA, which inspects and accredits hospitals across the USA.

The JCI may accredit entire hospital services or only specific departments within hospitals. The inspections involve the evaluation of the quality of clinical services, patient safety, the competence of medical and administrative staff, quality of equipment and the policies, protocols and procedures used. In order to maintain this prestigious accreditation, hospitals are subject to inspection without warning by the JCI representatives at any time or date.

The Kuwait Hospital Sharjah received JCI accreditation for all hospital programmes on 19 February 2021.

Abdul Rahman bin Mohammed Al-Owais, the Minister of Health said: “The rising number of our internationally accredited health facilities is yet another testament to the prestigious position and outstanding level of healthcare services in the UAE. This comes as part of our painstaking efforts to maintain and enhance the quality of our health system as per the highest international standards, thus boosting the UAE’s competitiveness among the best countries in the world in healthcare quality, according to the UAE Centennial 2071.” 

Dr. Youssif Al Serkal, Director-General of the Emirates Health Services Establishment, who attended virtually the procedural process of this accreditation, said: “This accreditation is the result of MoHAP’s efforts to apply the unified national standards for hospitals adopted by the UAE government to achieve best practices in the provision of services, the safety of patients and health care providers, hospital design, and health information systems, including medicines, the rights of patients and their families, the country's linguistic diversity, the rights of people of determination and senior citizens of both genders.”

In 2017, the Ministry of Health and Prevention (MoHAP) confirmed the goal that all healthcare facilities in the UAE would attain international accreditation from international accreditation organisations from the USA, Canada and Australia. This award is therefore a highly esteemed prize gained after much hard work and arduous preparation and bestows prestigious recognition on the holder.

Now that the Kuwait Hospital has joined the Khorfakken Hospital and Al Qassimi Hospital in JCI accreditation in the emirate of Sharjah the region is moving closer to achieving its goal. There is a total of 24 JCI accredited hospitals and clinics in Sharjah.

Interested in working in the UAE?

If you are interested in working in the prestigious JIC accredited hospitals of the UAE, please register your CV and contact us to discuss your options.  You can search and apply for available jobs and read further information about working in the UAE.