Page 28 - ADCMC PR REPORT - MAY 2025

The Department of Health – Abu Dhabi recently inaugurated the Unified Medical Operations
Command Centre (UMOC), the first of its kind globally. Operated by the Abu Dhabi Public Health
Centre, in collaboration with a number of public and private sector healthcare entities, the Centre
is designed to strengthen cooperation and coordination among all stakeholders. It serves as a
central hub for emergency management, marking a major addition to the Emirate’s healthcare
sector and playing a vital role in safeguarding public health, enhancing emergency preparedness,
and strengthening response capabilities.

The Abu Dhabi Standard for Business Continuity in Healthcare Activities applies to all healthcare
providers, based on the applicability of requirements to their specific operational environments and
service providers. It also encompasses additional requirements for pre-hospital and critical care,
as well as hospitals in general. The focus is primarily on the time taken to deliver relevant
healthcare services, and the hospital’s ability to respond to emergencies, crises, and disasters that
may disrupt social systems.
It also addresses critical incidents and emerging risks impacting the health of community
members. In such instances, coordinated efforts are required to ensure that healthcare providers
can respond effectively and mitigate adverse health outcomes in their facilities and across
communities.

The capability of the healthcare sector is determined by several factors such as the development of
hospitals that empower healthcare professionals to deliver medical care focused on emergency
and critical care, efficiently manage emergency calls and coordinate ambulance deployment. It is
also dependent on the efficiency of emergency patient transportation service providers,
multidisciplinary response teams that provide clinical interventions at the incident site, as well as
medical hotlines that offer remote diagnosis and instructions to facilitate certain treatments.

Non-emergency patient transport services for hospital transfers and discharges, along with a range
of other resources, including personnel, skills, equipment, technology, materials, and information,
also play a critical role in emergency and crisis situations. This also includes effective governance,
which lays down the acceptable boundaries for healthcare conduct and practices.

ADCMC remains steadfast in its efforts to reinforce the emirate’s adaptability and preparedness to
tackle future challenges through a range of forward-looking studies, research, and plans aimed at
enhancing crisis response capabilities. These include joint drills and exercises with various public
and private sector entities, as well as collaboration with partners to promote cooperation and
knowledge exchange in the field of emergency and disaster management. ADCMC is also
committed to developing infrastructure to ensure rapid and effective response to emergencies,
crises, and disasters.

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