Dubai Healthcare City Authority — standards and guidelines for licensed facilities and professionals (medical director, pharmacy, outpatient, laboratories, licence renewal, medical equipment, dialysis and others),
chapter by chapter

Clinical Laboratory Standard ss 3.1, 3.2Laboratory director and proficiency testing

Laboratories need a qualified Laboratory Director responsible for operations and compliance, including external proficiency testing and biannual correlation studies.

Clinical Laboratory Standard ss 3.3, Appendix 3Laboratory records and retention

Laboratories must retain patient testing records for at least ten years, following specific timelines for various types of records and reporting critical values immediately.

Clinical Laboratory Standard ss 3.6Laboratory accreditation and quality

Laboratories must obtain and maintain accreditation from a DHCA-approved body within one year of starting services and notify DHCR annually about their accreditation.

CPD Standard ss 3.4, 5CPD accreditation application

Operators must submit CPD accreditation applications at least 15 days prior, with valid licensing and course details, to receive DHCR approval.

CPD Standard ss 3.5-3.15, 4CPD programme conduct

CPD programs must have clear outcomes, free from bias, with properly licensed instructors and validated consent for hands-on training; accreditation is non-transferable.

HCP Licence Renewal Guideline ss 4.1-4.8Professional licence renewal

Professionals must renew their licence 30 to 60 days before expiry and maintain valid medical malpractice insurance and required CPD points.

HCP Licence Renewal Guideline ss 4.9-5CPD points for renewal

CPD points required for renewal vary by profession, with most points relating to the primary area of practice and specific exemptions available.

Medical Equipment Guideline ss 3.1-3.12Medical equipment management plan

Facilities must establish a medical equipment management plan, including tagging, maintenance, recalls, and staff training, prior to using any medical equipment.

Outpatient Standard ss 3.1.1-3.1.8Outpatient licensing and functional plan

To obtain or renew a Clinical Operating Permit, outpatient operators must submit a detailed Clinical Functional Plan and adhere to its stipulations.

Outpatient Standard ss 3.2Outpatient staffing and life support

Healthcare operators need to ensure all professionals are DHCA licensed and appoint administrators and directors with specified qualifications and oversight.

Outpatient Standard ss 3.3-3.5Outpatient patient management and records

Operators must refer at-risk patients to appropriate facilities, ensure timely documentation and compliance with health data protection, and display patient rights in English and Arabic.

Outpatient Standard ss 3.6Outpatient facility and equipment

Outpatient facilities must comply with DHCA standards, ensure privacy, have required contracts for services, maintain equipment, and have an Emergency Management Plan.

Outpatient Standard ss 3.7Outpatient quality survey and accreditation

Operators must obtain DHCR Quality Department accreditation within 2 years, maintain written policies, conduct quality programs, report sentinel events, and train staff on emergencies.

Pharmacy Standards s 3.2.4Pharmacist in Charge

Pharmacies must appoint a permanent Pharmacist-in-Charge, registered with DHCA, who oversees compliance and manages controlled drugs.

Pharmacy Standards ss 3.1-3.2Pharmacy licensing and operations

Pharmacies require specific licenses and must operate under DHCA compliance, maintaining supervision by licensed pharmacists at all times.

Pharmacy Standards ss 3.1.9.3, 3.4.9-3.4.10, 3.10Controlled drugs and records

Pharmacies must have MOHAP approval to handle controlled drugs and maintain comprehensive records, with strict reporting requirements for missing items.

Pharmacy Standards ss 3.3, 3.4.3-3.4.8Dispensing and prescription checks

Pharmacists must conduct thorough checks of prescriptions, document clarifications, and comply with labeling and storage requirements for medications before dispensing.

Pharmacy Standards ss 3.3.12-3.3.16, 3.7, 3.8, 3.9Pharmacy quality and safety systems

Pharmacies must monitor stock expiry, implement recall procedures, provide safe medicine disposal, and have strict policies for compounding and facility conditions, including pest control.

Renal Dialysis Standard ss 3.2Dialysis staffing

Each dialysis center must have a full-time licensed nephrologist and qualified nursing staff as per patient ratios and ensure emergency training certifications.

Renal Dialysis Standard ss 3.3.10, 3.3.13, 3.6.18-3.6.19Dialysis infection control and monitoring

Dialysis facilities must screen patients for hepatitis and HIV, separate infected patients in color-coded rooms, monitor vital signs regularly, and maintain treated water quality.

Renal Dialysis Standard ss 3.3.14, 3.7Dialysis emergency plan, accreditation and sentinel events

Dialysis centers must establish written agreements with paramedics and hospitals, annually test emergency plans, secure DHCR accreditation, and report sentinel events.

Standards SD/HCO/03/01 ss 4-7Medical/Clinical Director

Every healthcare operator must appoint a DHCA-licensed Medical Director, notify DHCA of changes, and maintain continuous oversight of the position.

Pharmacy Standards s 3.10.6-retRecord Retention — Controlled drug prescriptions

Controlled drug prescriptions must be retained for five years, with two years at the pharmacy and three years in secure storage.

Pharmacy Standards s 3.10.7-retRecord Retention — Controlled drug vendor delivery documents

Controlled drug vendor delivery documents must be retained for 12 months from the date of delivery.

Pharmacy Standards s 3.10.8-retRecord Retention — Records of uncontrolled medications

Records of uncontrolled medications must be retained for 5 years from the date of record.

Pharmacy Standards s 3.8.12-retRecord Retention — Pharmacy equipment and supplies maintenance records

Pharmacy must retain maintenance records for equipment and supplies for three years from the maintenance date.

Clinical Laboratory Standard s 3.3.4-retRecord Retention — Patient test records (order, report, specimens, blocks, slides)

Patient test records must be retained for 10 years from the date of the test, including orders, reports, specimens, blocks, and slides.

Clinical Laboratory Standard App. 3-retRecord Retention — Accession log, instrument maintenance and quality control records

Facilities must retain accession logs, instrument maintenance, and quality control records for two years from the record date.

Clinical Laboratory Standard App. 3-ret-2Record Retention — Surgical pathology paraffin blocks, slides and reports

Surgical pathology records, including blocks and slides, must be retained for ten years post-final report.

Clinical Laboratory Standard App. 3-ret-3Record Retention — Forensic autopsy blocks, slides and reports

Forensic autopsy blocks, slides, and reports must be retained indefinitely from the date of autopsy.

Clinical Laboratory Standard s 2.4-retRecord Retention — Equipment and supplies maintenance records

Equipment and supplies maintenance records must be retained for three years from the date of maintenance.