Data Protection in Health Care Sector UAE

In today’s world, digital platforms are on the rise. They are expanding massively which has resulted in a change in our daily lifestyles. This has led to significance in safeguarding sensitive personal data. Data protection, data management, data safety is a serious concern nowadays, for the corporate world where companies are very much interested in securing data and adopting precautions for data management. Data protection is of paramount importance in the age of the digital realm. Nonetheless, nations and countries across the globe are making efforts and bringing changes to their legal frameworks. 

GDPR: EUROPE

The fortified legal system is being introduced across Europe and other progressive nations around the world. Nevertheless, Europe has introduced exemplary General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and the most prominent reform named EU e-Privacy Regulation. 

Middle East:

This trend gained a lot of popularity and the Middle East has followed in its footsteps. Notably, the United Arab Emirates has apprehended a need for a tailored data protection system and some cohesive privacy rules and regulations. 

This has resulted in the emergence of the UAE as a key player in it. The UAE’s prominent regulatory authorities including Dubai International Financial Centre DIFC and Abu Dhabi General Market have adopted this. UAE has a strong focus and attention on “Data Protection and its Management”. Data scientists and several lawyers in UAE are working with government and privately to make sure that data is not compromised. They have proactively adopted privacy principles and ensure specialized data protection in United Arab Emirates. The Dubai HealthCare City has also actively opted for it according to the international best standards. Dubai health care city is meant for dealing the health related matter, licenses, certificates etc. Dubai healthcare also needs the data security protection. Therefore DHA also adopts the data security precautions and protocols. Our lawyers in UAE can help you understand in a very good way. Our lawyers in Dubai do offer the services for data protection in all the Emirates and for all the health care authorities in UAE e.g. Sharjah, Ajman, etc. Do you also want ton see our lawyers or attorneys in Dubai.

1995 Data Protection Directives

Some of the well-known and esteemed privacy principles include the 1995 Data Protection Directive and the 1980 OECD Guidelines regarding the Protection of Privacy. OECD also addresses the cross-border flows of Personal Data. This has paved a smooth path for detailed data security and data protection practices in the UAE. In 2019, under the Federal Law, UAE witnessed a turning point. They dubbed the Health Data law and introduced the regulations concerning the utility of Information Technology IT and Communication ITC. 

In the healthcare domain, this salient law was introduced to ensure the commitment towards data protection and implementing the GDPR framework. Furthermore, the UAE introduced Health Data Law by covering important facets including the limitations, rules, data accuracy standards, cyber security measures, data disclosures, and consent prerequisites over data. Dubai lawyers have expertise to explain such laws and their directives.

Efforts made by UAE Government

The efforts are made by the UAE to undermine its commitment to harmonize data protection with international best practices. Nevertheless, this has eminent ramifications for the healthcare stakeholders and even for the data custodians. 

It also impacted the broader legal canvas in the UAE. On a large scale, it is introduced for the welfare of UAE society. Therefore, several noteworthy developments took place in the UAE that aligned with international practices. One such development was the pronouncement of the European 

Data Protection Board 

This was specifically introduced to delineate between the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and the European Union’s regulatory framework. This was introduced in the clinical trials. This will ensure better data protection in the healthcare sector. Moreover, it also addresses the matters related to the sensitivity of healthcare data. This pronouncement in the healthcare sector will ensure data protection across national borders. It further harmonizes the approach adopted across various jurisdictions. UAE is not behind, their Health Data Law has adopted these reforms to ensure timeliness and pertinently. This forward-looking approach of the UAE will stabilize the healthcare sector in the country. Furthermore, it also reinforces the regional and international data protection standards more effectively and effortlessly.

Health Data Law

The Health Data Law in the UAE is not restricted to medical care; instead, it is extended to other entities including health care, Information Technology, health care providers, and other related services. It caters to all entities that are directly or indirectly related. It is applicable all over the UAE and even for Free Zones. Some of the core features of the law consist of Data Processing, Data Security, Data Localization, and others. It also comprises Centrally Controlled Healthcare IT System, Circumstances Permitting Disclosure Exceptions, and Impositions of Sanctions on Data Processing. The Health Data Law was unveiled in UAE at the beginning of 2019 which covers the comprehensive scope of it. The law was officially effective in the middle of the year 2019. The main motive was to establish the preliminary regulations for data protection in the care sector and also institute the central Informational Technology IT. This has provided health care with better data safety and a grace period to implement the new rules and its provisions. The latest reforms also ensure the protocols and procedures to access the management systems in the health care sector of UAE.