UAE's newly established Federal Health Authority will be responsible for the establishment, management and development of the federal government's hospitals and health centers as per the world's highest standards, according to the Minister of Health Dr Hanif Hassan Ali.

Accordingly the Authority will be responsible for the process of rehabilitation those institutes, getting international accreditation fro them as well as providing medical services and development and training their medical staff, conducting medical and health research and studies, the Minister told reporters in a press conference at the Ministry.

This, he noted, will be done within the framework of rationalized expenditure but, at the same time, ensuring quality medical services for reasonable costs.

On December 22nd, President HH Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan approved Law No. 13/ 2009 establishing the Federal Health Authority that will take over the executive responsibilities of the Ministry of Health.

The Ministry will now focus purely on legislation and regulation. The new body will seek to increase the efficiency and competitiveness of the nation's healthcare system, a key step in the government's strategy to ensure excellent medical care for all.

Hassan said the Authority will follow the principles set by the country's leadership. These include: excellence of work, providing the best medical services as per the highest international standards, meeting the health needs of the population through building self capabilities to deal with common diseases, close cooperation and collaboration with local health authorities and international relevant centers, follow up on work and auditing for transparency, continuous development to ensure efficiency and better performance.