The U.S.-U.A.E. Business Council hosted a visiting delegation from the United Arab Emirates (U.A.E.) Ministry of Health (MOH) on Thursday, led by Undersecretary, His Excellency Dr. Mohammed Salim Al Olama in Washington, D.C. The breakfast event featured a brief introduction by U.S.-U.A.E. Business Council President, Danny Sebright, and a keynote presentation by H.E. Dr. Amin Al Amiri, Assistant Undersecretary, Health Policy and License for the Ministry. The keynote provided public and private sector stakeholders with an opportunity to learn about important aspects of the burgeoning U.S.-U.A.E. healthcare relationship, as well as opportunities for commercial partnership for American healthcare companies in the Emirates.
“The United States is a key strategic partner for the U.A.E. in all sectors, therefore, we seek to strengthen this partnership in the health sector” said H.E. Dr. Al Olama. “We look to American companies for the best in class technology, training, and knowledge transfer that America is famous for, especially as the U.A.E. builds out its own healthcare capabilities to provide for the needs of its citizens, and eventually for the broader Gulf region.”
U.S.-U.A.E. Business Council President Danny Sebright & U.A.E. Ministry of Health Assistant Undersecretary His Excellency Dr. Amin Al Amiri
Following the keynote presentation, Sebright opened the floor to Q&A, during which time stakeholders in the room were given the opportunity to engage H.E. Dr. Olama and H.E. Dr. Al Amiri on the many challenges facing healthcare providers in the U.A.E., difficulties of technology implementation within hospitals, and the level of success the MOH has had in playing a dual role between providing nationwide health policies as well as managing the Northern Emirates’ healthcare infrastructure.
Sebright concluded the breakfast by thanking H.E. Dr. Al Olama, H.E. Dr. Al Amiri, the other MOH delegates, and the business community for joining the discussion. Before arriving in Washington, on a Business Council – led trade mission, the Ministry of Health delegation traveled to New York City to visit Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, as well as the GE Leadership and Development Institute in Crotonville, NY. The delegation’s mission was to assess best in class U.S. healthcare facilities, multiple innovation strategies, and a wide range of research and development around the field of healthcare. During their time in Washington, the Business Council facilitated a private meeting between the delegation and officials from the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative on a range of topics for mutual cooperation, in addition to a visit to George Washington University Hospital and Children’s National Medical Center. The delegation will round out the remainder of the week by visiting Johns Hopkins University Hospital’s Sheikh Zayed Tower in Baltimore, Maryland before returning to the U.A.E.
For your reference, H.E. Dr. Al Olama and H.E. Dr. Al Amiri’s biographies can be found below.
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His Excellency Dr. Mohammed Salim Al Olama
Undersecretary
U.A.E. Ministry of Health
H.E. Dr. Mohammad Salim Al Olama, Undersecretary of U.A.E. Ministry of Health, received his M.D. from Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland. He also holds an MBA from Boston University and an MPH from Harvard. In 1998 he joined the Department of Health and Medical Services in the Dubai Health Authority and eventually earned his spot as CEO of the Hospital Services Sector & Acting CEO of the Clinical Support Services Sector. Here he was tasked to lead and oversee the process of developing new projects and business development in relation to delivering healthcare and clinical support services to U.A.E. nationals. Dr. Al Olama is a member of many organizations such as American College of Healthcare Executives in USA, Irish Medical in Ireland and Beta Gamma Sigma Honorary Society for business school in the United States. Due to his hard work and dedication, in September 2013 he was appointed as an Undersecretary of U.A.E. Ministry of Health.
His Excellency Dr. Amin Al Amiri
Assistant Undersecretary, Health Policy and License
U.A.E. Ministry of Health
His Excellency Dr. Amin Hussain Al Amiri is the Asst. Undersecretary of Public Health Policy & Licensing Sector in UAE Ministry of Health. Dr. Al Amiri got his Ph.D. and Ms. C. in Medical Science in 2003 from Faculty of Medicine; Aberdeen University in Scotland; UK.
He is responsible for the following departments at MOH:
- –Drug Dept.
- –Empowerment & Health Compliance Dept.
- –Organization, Licenses& Advertisement Dept.
- –Public Health Policies Dept.
His Excellency’s voluntary activities included other responsibilities such as Co-Chairing Emirates Voluntary Association till 2003. In addition to this, he is taking the responsibility as a Secretary General of Sharjah Voluntary Award since 2001 till date.
He has many publications in the field of blood transfusion in local and international journals.
Dr. Al Amiri was awarded from Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf executive office and the Arab League and Sheikh Rashid Award for Culture and Science.
