During its participation at the United Nations Climate Change Conference COP28, the Department of Health – Abu Dhabi (DoH), the regulator of the healthcare sector in the Emirate has announced the winners of the Emerald Muashir Awards, acknowledging the top six healthcare facilities that have met the Department’s criteria for the awards. The awards were split into two categories, one for Large Hospitals, and one for Medium Hospitals. The facilities that have complied with DoH’s three pillars for Emerald Muashir, covering infrastructure, operation, and healthcare waste, were presented with recognition trophies.
The ceremony saw Burjeel Medical City claiming the award for the “Large Hospitals” category.
The awards come in line with DoH’s efforts to raise the quality of healthcare and promote sustainability in the Emirate through the Abu Dhabi Healthcare Quality Index “Muashir”. Emerald Muashir was developed to rate and evaluate the sustainability levels of healthcare facilities through the three main dimensions of infrastructure, operations, and healthcare waste management, with approximately 15 indicators collectively sourced and adapted from reputable and evidence-based programmes.
The ceremony took place on the 3rd of December 2023 at the Knowledge Hub, Expo City Dubai, in the presence of representatives from the six facilities.
Dr. Aysha Al Khoori, Executive Director Healthcare Facilities Sector at the Department of Health – Abu Dhabi (DoH), said: “Following the directives of our wise leadership, DoH is continuously working hand-in-hand with its strategic partners in the healthcare sector to build a sustainable and climate-resilient ecosystem in Abu Dhabi. The Emerald Muashir Awards seek to recognise the hard work and commitment of healthcare facilities to sustainably advance their services, providing high-quality care for patients and creating a future-proof healthcare ecosystem. We look forward to seeing our healthcare community contributing towards a sustainable environment that will impact the health and well-being of our community now and for generations to come.”
With a focus on infrastructure, DoH is closely working with healthcare facilities to enable the sector to implement green building methodologies by using sustainable, recyclable, and natural materials in hospital construction and maintenance, while transitioning to clean and renewable energy sources.
Notably, earlier this year, DoH announced the healthcare sector’s sustainability goals, which aim to reduce carbon emissions by 20% in 2030 and Net Zero by 2050. Through these goals, the Department is developing a roadmap for the Emirate’s healthcare sustainability progress and accelerating alignment across the ecosystem.
COP28 serves as a platform for leaders and experts from around the world to discuss and address critical issues related to climate change, taking place in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, from November 30 to December 12, 2023. DoH and the Abu Dhabi Public Health Centre (ADPHC) are inviting guests to visit their booth to explore their projects and activations. Visit booth number 59, located in the Green Zone, within the Technology & Innovation Hub, while the panel discussions and sessions will be taking place in the Green Zone’s Knowledge Hub as well as the booth itself.
To know more about DoH and ADPHC’s participation at COP28, visit: https://www.doh.gov.ae/en/cop28