SEOUL NATIONAL UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL

[Photo] Panoramic view of Sheikh Khalifa Specialty Hospital

Seoul National University Hospital (President Kim Young Tae) announced on August 21st that it has extended its consignment operation contract with Sheikh Khalifa Specialty Hospital (SKSH) in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) for two more years.

This renewal is the third contract signed since the first contract in August 2014 and the renewal in 2019, and the new contract will run for two years starting from August 14, 2024. This contract demonstrates that Seoul National University Hospital's excellent medical technology is recognized internationally. This is particularly significant as SNUH is the first overseas medical institution to have continued hospital consignment operations in the UAE for more than 10 years. This is an accomplishment unmatched even by world-renowned hospitals such as Johns Hopkins Hospital, Mayo Clinic, and Cleveland Clinic, and is the result of Seoul National University Hospital building long-term trust with partners.

Seoul National University Hospital's management of SKSH marks Korea's first case of overseeing a large overseas tertiary medical institution and has played an important role in strengthening the ‘special strategic partnership’ between Korea and the UAE. SKSH (President Lee Jeong Yeol) is a 246-bed hospital located in Ras Al Khaimah (RAK), UAE, with a total of 664 medical staff, including 99 personnel dispatched from Seoul National University Hospital. The number of outpatient treatments in 2023 was 84,859, and more than 7,000 patients visit SKSH every month.

SKSH provides stable and professional medical services for diseases requiring high-level treatment that occur frequently in the UAE, especially through three special centers: the Cancer Center, the Neurological Center, and the Cardiovascular Center. As a result, it has built a high level of satisfaction and trust in Korean medical care services. Consequently, SKSH has obtained Joint Commission International (JCI) accreditation three times from 2016 to 2022, establishing itself as an internationally recognized medical institution. In particular, it won the UAE Medical Innovation Award in 2020, solidifying its position as an innovative medical service provider in the Middle East.

Seoul National University Hospital introduced UniT based Performance Innovation Aid (UTOPIA) to enhance SKSH’s operational efficiency and improve communication between departments, strengthening the management of the hospital’s key performance indicators (KPIs) and safety indicators, which resulted in significant improvements in related indicators. In particular, SKSH achieved the highest patient satisfaction among Sheikh Khalifa Royal Hospitals by recording the highest level of satisfaction through the ‘Press Ganey’ patient satisfaction evaluation tool.

SKSH President Lee Jeong Yeol said that he plans to continue to strengthen patient management, education, and research capabilities through cooperation with Seoul National University Hospital. He plans to expand the scope of services at the Cardiovascular Center, Neurological Center, and Tumor Center, and promote AI-based treatment and research initiatives to improve patient treatment outcomes and hospital operation efficiency. In addition, he plans to promote localization through internship and residency programs for UAE medical students and introduce Seoul National University Hospital’s education program to strengthen the expertise of local medical staff. 

 Seoul National University Hospital President Kim Young Tae said, “This renewal contract is the result of the excellent performance and deep trust we have built in the UAE over the past 10 years and has proven once again that Seoul National University Hospital’s excellent medical technology and expertise are recognized internationally.” He added, “We will continue to work closely with SKSH to promote the excellence of Korean medical care to the world and further strengthen healthcare cooperation between Korea and the UAE, thereby continuously contributing to the advancement of medical care in the Middle East.