Teams of health care officials from Bahrain, UAE meet in Dubai

A mission team from Bahrain -- led by Dr. Shaikh Mohammed bin Abdulla Al Khalifa, chair of the Supreme Health Council (SHC) of Bahrain -- recently arrived in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to meet with Humaid Al Qatami, Dubai Health Authority chair and director-general.

The health officials convened to discuss medical legislation and a new health funding model proposed for Dubai. They talked about practices and ideas they were using in health care in their respective nations.

Additionally, the UAE team allowed members of the Bahraini delegation to take a look at its national health data directory and gave a presentation on UAE's health funding system and insurance program initiatives. Ideas were shared about electronic insurance coding, e-claims processing, payer-provider e-communications, provider credentials and quality management for insurance issues.

Al Qatami said the meeting was in keeping with Vice President and UAE Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai Sheikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum's wishes that Gulf nations communicate on issues of development and best practices related to health care.