Dubai: The Dubai Health Authority’s (DHA) Medical Education Department recently hosted the final exams in the field of family medicine for the Arab Board of Health Specializations.

More than 322 resident physicians registered to give the examination for the Family Medicine Specialization Certificate across 10 examination centers in Arab countries.

Sixty-eight doctors from the UAE undertook the examination. The examination was conducted virtually for the first time and the examiners were family medicine specialists.

Dr. Wadeia Mohammad Sharif, Director of Medical Education and Research Department (MERD) at the DHA and Chairperson of the Scientific Council for the Family Medicine Specialty at the Arab Council for Health Specializations said: “DHA is focused on developing human resources in the medical sector and this reinforces our commitment in the field of continuous medical education.”

She added that family medicine is a key specialty because the DHA considers primary healthcare to be frontline healthcare and therefore family medics are the first-point-of-contact for patients unless urgent or critical care is required. She said family medicine plays a vital role in community health and wellbeing as well as reinforces the concept of ‘prevention is better than cure’ through early interventions and regular follow-ups.

She added that continuous medical education is particularly important in the medical sector and is essential for the further growth and development of the sector.