File medical complaint with the right authority

Dubai: Filing a medical complaint in the UAE can be tricky if you do not know where to go. Before you can complain, you first have to figure out which of the three health authorities has jurisdiction over the medical facility.

The ministry has complete jurisdiction in the northern emirates, consisting of Sharjah, Fujairah, Ras Al Khaimah, Ajman and Umm Al Quwain. It also has medical facilities in Dubai, namely Al Baraha Hospital and Al Amal Hospital, as well as nine primary healthcare centres.

The Dubai Health Authority (DHA) or Dubai Department of Health and Medical Services (Dohms) regulates private and most of the public medical facilities in Dubai and Health Authority of Abu Dhabi has total jurisdiction over the emirate of Abu Dhabi, which includes Al Ain.

To complain to the Ministry of Health, Dr Ebrahim Al Qadi, Director of Licensing at the ministry, said patients have to file the complaint with the medical district office of the emirate to which the medical facility belongs.

"Just write a letter to the ministry. Mention your name, contact details, the nature of the complaint and the hospital or clinic you're complaining about," he said, adding patients should also file an official complaint with the offending medical facility.

He said patients could get the phone number and location of the medical district office in a specific emirate.

"If they have problems filing the complaint at the medical district, they can email me at ibrahimaq@moh.gov.ae," he added.

As for the DHA, patients can complain by phone at 8004991, in person at the authority's headquarters in the Rashid Hospital compound or on-line through the e-complaint system. Patients can access the portal through www.dohms.gov.ae.

If the medical problem occurs in Abu Dhabi, patients can complain to HA-AD by phone at (02)4493333 or toll-free at 800800, in person at the authority's headquarters on Airport Road, or on-line at www.haad.ae.

At a glance

Important phone numbers:

Ministry of Health

Sharjah Medical District: (06)5722222

Ajman Medical District: (06)7429333

Ras Al Khaimah Medical District: (07)2283444

Umm Al Quwain Medical District: (06)7656209

Fujairah Medical District: (09)2242888

Dubai Medical District: (04)3965801

Note: Office hours are between 7:30am to 3:30pm, but getting through to a real person can take hours.

Dubai Health AuthorityCustomer Care Department: 800 4991

Website: www.dohms.gov.ae or ecomplain.dubai.ae