Business & Finance Club - Dubai : ICDL GCC Foundation, the governing body of the International Computer Driving Licence (ICDL) program in the Gulf and Iraq, is launching a new IT awareness campaign with Dubai Health Authority (DHA).

The campaign is aimed at highlighting the importance and impact of IT skills in the healthcare sector.

ICDL GCC Foundation pointed out that investments in IT by healthcare institutions have increased significantly in line with the sustained growth of the GCC's healthcare industry, which according to a study by the World Bank has been projected to reach a value of $60 billion by 2025.

According to several independent studies, in five years time employers expect less than 10 per cent of jobs to be available to individuals without ICT skills, regardless of role or industry.

Campaigns like this build on the continuing partnership between ICDL GCC Foundation and DHA, which was initiated in 2008 to efficiently integrate IT elements into DHA's programs and expand the technology proficiency of its staff in different areas.

The joint effort between them involves the promotion of digital skills through the hanging of posters within DHA facilities that include messages about the significance of digital awareness on the job and in personal life.

The healthcare sector depends on a wide range of applications and advances in technology which help ensure that healthcare services are of high quality, safe and are more responsive to the patients’ needs.

In addition, potential benefits include increased quality and efficiency of care, reduced operating costs of clinical services, reduced administrative costs, and introduction of entirely new modes of care.

“The Dubai Health Authority has worked throughout the years to continuously and efficiently develop its medical and administrative staff to guarantee the quality and standards of the management processes of health care services available through hospitals and affiliated health centres,” said Dr Khalil Kaed, director of medical education department, DHA.

“As a natural result of the technological advancements we are experiencing everyday in the healthcare sector, the ICDL program comes along to play a major role in spreading IT awareness and raising the efficiency of all workers within the authority to use the computer and its applications in accordance with international standards that have proven success,” he added.

"The launch of the internal IT awareness campaign in collaboration with ICDL GCC Foundation is to urge the DHA staff, who were unable to establish or develop their skills in information technology to do so, which will consequently serve the DHA plan to increase efficiency and improve services provided to live up to the global standards that we are seeking" he concluded.