A medical complaint can be filed by a patient affected by the actions of a healthcare provider or the service received within a health facility. A medical complaint can also be filed by a family member or someone acting on behalf of the patient (provided they have a power of attorney). In case the patient in question is dead or in a coma, their next of kin can file a complaint on their behalf. If the patient is a minor, their legal guardian can file the complaint.

Any person who received treatment in Dubai can file a complaint, whether they are residents of the UAE or tourists visiting the UAE.

A complaint can be filed against a medical health professional by filling the Medical Complaints Procedure online or by emailing a duly filled and signed complaint letter to cg@dha.gov.ae

It is important to explain and be specific about the health professional you are complaining about. When filing the complaint, please make sure you include all supporting and required documents.

A complaint can be filed against a medical health facility by filling the Medical Complaints Procedure online or by emailing a duly filled and signed complaint letter to cg@dha.gov.ae

It is important to explain and be specific about the health facility you are complaining about. When filing the complaint, please make sure you include all supporting and required documents.

The Medical Complaint Procedure aims to simplify the process of filing a medical complaint. fill up the Medical Complaint Procedure online by answering a set of questions. Please note that the complaint will not be filed until the full form is filled and submit it.

While filling up the complaint form, please make sure to highlight the following concerns:

Explain & be specific on what or whom the medical complaint is about. For example, Health care management not up to the expected standard in medical health facility or a medical health professional prescribed the wrong medication, etc.

The expectations should be clear about what complainant hoping to achieve. For example: an apology, more information about your condition, an explanation, etc.

After filing complaint, complainant (will receive an email notifying that the complaint has been received successfully.

Clinical Governance Office will then contact all the concerned who can provide information about your complaint. It may be necessary to review relevant parts of your healthcare records.

Complainant will then be informed if an investigation is required to resolve the case. Clinical Governance Office will notify the complainant in case of any delays.

Clinical Governance Office will review the complaints case-by-case basis and aims to resolve each one as soon as possible. Given the fact that Clinical Governance Office will deal with patient care and all healthcare providers involved in the case, the timeframe depends on the complaint.

A complaint that requires extensive and detailed investigation may take time to be resolved, in order to ensure the interest of all parties involved.

The Health Regulation Department will always try to speed the process and update all parties periodically about the progress of the complaint.

The Health Regulation Department deals with each complaint separately, based on the severity of the complaint. The first step is to find out what happened and what went wrong. They can then make it possible for you to discuss the problem with the health professionals concerned if you wish to do so, ensuring you receive an apology, where it’s appropriate and required. They then identify the cause of the problem in order to ensure it does not happen again while facilitating communication between the health facility and the patient at all times.

Once the investigation is over, the outcome will be communicated to you.

Malpractice is an error that occurs due to the practitioner’s unfamiliarity with the technical aspects of a procedure with which each practitioner is assumed familiar with, due to negligence or not making enough effort. A health professional and a medical health facility will not be liable in the following cases:

• • The treatment resulted in a known side effect and complication
• • The damage was sustained due to the patient’s actions
• • The physician followed a method of treatment other than the method followed in the same field of speciality but which is consistent with the recognized medical principles.

If you need further assistance or would like to know more, please contact the Clinical Governance Office in the Health Regulation Department on +971-4-5022946 or +971-4-5024022 and also can send a Fax to +971-4-3113196 or email to cg@dha.gov.ae

Alternatively, you can visit Dubai Health Authority’s website for more information on the medical complaints procedure – www.dha.gov.ae