The Ministry of Health (MoH) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for cooperation with the Sheikh Zayed Institute of Paediatric Surgical Innovations (SZIPSI) at the Washington-based Children's National Medical Centre (CNMC).

The MoU was signed yesterday in the presence of Abdul Rahman bin Mohammed Al Owais, Minister of Health, on the sidelines of the Arab Health Exhibition and Congress, currently being held at the World Trade Centre in Dubai.

It was signed by Dr. Yousif Mohammed Al Sirkal, MoH's Assistant Under-secretary for Hospitals Sector, and Dr Kurt De Newman, president and CEO of CNMC.

The MoU aims at upgrading services at the hospitals through exchange of expertise, cooperation in healthcare field and promoting Public-Private Partnership in innovative healthcare technology and research.

Dr. Al Sirkal said the MoU comes as part of the MoH's strategy to enhance healthcare services in line with international best practices.

Dr. Newman expressed pleasure at the signing of the MoU, saying it would enable the CNMC to work closely with its partners in the UAE to create and implement innovative solutions for children healthcare.

The SZIPSI was launched in September 2009 with a US$150 million grant from the UAE government, the largest such grant ever given for paediatric surgery. The CNMC has a longstanding relationship with the UAE.