The UAE Ministry of Finance (MoF) signed a membership document with the Medical Office of the Ministry of Presidential Affairs and two agreements with Abu Dhabi Health Services Company (SEHA) and the National Health Insurance Company (Daman) to join the e-Dirham system, a fully integrated electronic payment and revenue collection system developed in partnership with First Abu Dhabi Bank (FAB).

The first agreement was signed between MOF (represented by HE Saeed Rashid Al Yateem, Assistant Undersecretary for Resources and Budget Sector) and the Medical Office at the Ministry of Presidential Affairs, represented by Undersecretary and Director General HE Hassan Ahmad Al Alkeem Al Zaabi. Additional agreements were subsequently signed by MOF both with Daman (represented by board member HE Dr. Saeed Abdullah bin Mutlaq Al Ghafli) and SEHA (represented by Managing Director Mr.Abdullah Saeed Al Dhahri). In line with FAB’s role in the system, Han’a Al Rustamani, Group Head of Personal Banking at FAB countersigned the agreements with Daman and SEHA on behalf of the bank.

HE Saeed Rashid Al Yateem, Assistant Undersecretary for Resources and Budget Sector at MoF, said: “We continuously seek to increase efficiency and ease of government services offered to individuals and corporation. Signing these two agreements and the membership document to adopt the e-Dirham system is considered a step further in improving the efficiency of services provided by the health sector.”

“The Ministry of Finance is working to constantly improve the e-Dirham system and offer the best digital solutions and services by aligning it with the latest international standards, investing in the latest smart technology infrastructure and strengthening the connectivity of e-Dirham to other modes of electronic payments, which are being used throughout the UAE. This falls in line with our nation’s strategy towards developing a knowledge-based and digital economy,” Al Yateem added.

HE Hassan Ahmad Al Alkeem Al Zaabi, Undersecretary, Director General of the Medical Office at the Ministry of Presidential Affairs, said: “In the framework of strategic partnership with MoF, the Medical Office signed this membership document to allow hospitals of the initiatives of His Highness, the President of the UAE, to join the second generation of e-Dirham system”.

“Joining the e-Dirham system represents a new and significant step towards expanding the concept of smart government and its applications in government authorities throughout the UAE. We hope that this step will contribute to the accomplishment of the goals of hospitals under the initiative of His Highness, the President of the UAE, which is to provide customers with high quality and efficient services, in a manner that helps them complete their transactions easily and smoothly”, HE Al Zaabi added.

Furthermore, Hana Al Rustamani, Group Head of Personal Banking at FAB, said: “Joining the e-Dirham system enables these entities to benefit from cashless payments in the collection of government service fees. The expansion of the system contributes to the continued development of the digital financial economy and UAE smart government.”

For his part, HE Dr. Saeed Abdullah bin Mutlaq Al Ghafli, a board member in Daman, said: “Daman works hard to upgrade its procedures and policies to strengthen the efficiency of its processes and assure excellence in the service offered, particularly in the field of developing e-smart and innovative services. Daman supports projects of smart transformation, in a manner which matches the applications of e government services, and the instructions of the wise leadership in this framework”.

“Daman joining the e-Dirham system will contribute to providing customers with our services in a safe and advanced manner, while adhering to quality and fast performance. This system is characterised by its integration with the various global payment methods, and its adaptability to the future requirements and changes”, H.E. Dr. Al Ghafli added.

For his part, Mr. Abdullah Saeed Al Dhahri, the Managing Director of Abu Dhabi Health Services Company (SEHA), said: “SEHA has joined the e-Dirham system in a bid to upgrade its services to the highest levels of creativity and innovation to meet the UAE Vision 2021”.

“Signing this agreement will raise the financial efficiency, strengthen accuracy in processes, and provide a safe modern payment method that is compatible with the aspirations of SEHA. It is undoubted that we continuously strive to offer services that meet the expectations of our customers, and assure them a unique experience in our healthcare establishments”, Al Dhahri added.