ADHICS DoH Standards : Ensuring Safe Digital Healthcare

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You trust healthcare providers with your most sensitive information—medical histories, test results, prescriptions. But a digital age brings new risks: ransomware, data leaks, privacy breaches. That’s where ADHICS—the Abu Dhabi Healthcare Information & Cyber Security Standard—steps in. Developed by the Department of Health – Abu Dhabi (DoH), this robust framework enforces cybersecurity and data governance across the emirate’s healthcare sector. In this article, we’ll guide you through the who, what, why, and how of ADHICS DoH standards. From its role in protecting your data to its integration with national platforms like NABIDH and Riayati, you’ll learn why this standard matters to you—whether you’re a patient, IT manager, or provider.

What are DoH’s ADHICS Standards and Why You Should Care

ADHICS, short for Abu Dhabi Healthcare Information & Cyber Security Standard, emerged from the DoH to shield public and private health entities from cyber‑threats. It blends international best practices in information security—ISO 27001, NIST—with UAE regulations, ensuring patient data stays private, accurate, and available.

Don’t mistake it for mere paperwork. ADHICS influences everything from system access and data encryption to incident response and cloud controls. Its goal? Build trust between you and the healthcare system, secure even in a world of increasing digital threats.

Scope and Applicability of DoH’s ADHICS Standards Across Healthcare

ADHICS applies broadly:

  • All licensed healthcare facilities—hospitals, clinics, pharmacies

  • Labs, insurance firms, and any staff with patient-access privileges

  • Physical infrastructure (data center’s, HVAC, access controls) and staff

  • Digital systems, whether owned or third-party (like Malaffi, Shafafiya portal)

Whether you run a one-doctor clinic or a hospital, ADHICS expects adherence to security based on your size and risk profile. Even the smallest clinic must meet “Basic” control requirements within six months; larger hospitals must scale up to “Transitional” and “Advanced” over time.

Governance & Risk Management in ADHICS DoH Standards

Strong security begins at the top. ADHICS requires a three-layer governance model:

  1. Executive Committee (ISGC) oversees strategy

  2. Information Security Workgroup (HIIP) drives implementation

  3. Execution Team (ISG) handles day-to-day controls

Besides structure, you must maintain a risk register—catalogue risks, rate severity, define treatment plans. Reassess regularly. This transforms vague threats into actionable security workstreams.

Core Control Categories in DoH’s ADHICS Standards

ADHICS divides controls into three tiers depending on facility size and risk:

  • Basic: mandatory for all—encryption, user authentication, backup

  • Transitional: one-year targets for moderate complexity—change management, advanced logging

  • Advanced: for larger hospitals—SIEM, device hardening, role management

These tiers ensure all providers secure patient data while encouraging maturity in stronger systems.

Critical Security Domains Under ADHICS DoH Standards

ADHICS covers core domains to guide healthcare cybersecurity:

  • Access Controls: MFA, role-based controls, secure identity lifecycle

  • Asset Management: classify and protect data assets from “Secret” to “Public”

  • Operations Management: backups, change control, log management

  • Information Protection: encryption in transit and at rest

  • Incident Management: documented detection, escalation, recovery protocols

  • Physical & Environmental Security: secure data rooms and disaster readiness

  • Compliance & Monitoring: aligned policies, periodic reviews, audits

Each domain builds a layered defense to protect your sensitive health information.

Operational Policies and Technical Safeguards

Making ADHICS practical requires well-documented policies:

  • Health Information Protection policy defines access rules

  • Asset Inventory and Classification policies maintain data visibility

  • Change Management must include planning, testing, rollback plans

  • Backup & Recovery procedures—with encrypted, regular backups

  • Log Management, including SIEM systems and audit controls

Technically, you’ll deploy firewalls, MFA, encryption (e.g., AES‑256 and TLS), and device-level protections. These standards ground digital innovation in safety.

Compliance Enforcement and Audit Processes

Failing ADHICS can cost your license. DoH enforces it through:

  • Licensing renewals tied to ADHICS compliance

  • AAMEN program audits, with gap assessments and penalties

  • External certifications (ISO 27001, EHNAC) streamline compliance

  • DoH CERT support, providing threat intel, vulnerability assessments, forensic analysis

It’s not just about passing a test—it’s about building resilience and public trust.

Alignment with NABIDH, ADHICS v2.0 & Riayati

Evolving needs led to ADHICS v2.0 (2024–2025), adding tighter cloud controls and tiered compliance for entity size.

The standard also aligns with Dubai’s NABIDH and the national HIE Riayati, ensuring end-to-end security and interoperability across the UAE. As digital health grows, these shared controls make unified patient care seamless.

Challenges in Implementing ADHICS

Expect obstacles:

  • Legacy systems lacking modern API and encryption capabilities

  • Resource constraints, especially for small clinics needing policies and tech

  • Ongoing staff training to build security awareness

  • Monitoring and repair, requiring routine checks, updates, and audits

Tackling these demands a phased approach—with champions, clear KPIs, and continuous improvement.

ADHICS isn’t just a challenge—it’s an opportunity. It sets a gold standard for digital trust, letting you access and share your data without fear. Healthcare providers secure systems before getting licensed. And as Abu Dhabi aligns with national frameworks like NABIDH and Riayati, the UAE moves toward an integrated, secure, digital healthcare future.

By implementing strong governance, technical controls, and ongoing audits, ADHICS fortifies your digital healthcare journey—making it safe, reliable, and ready for tomorrow.

FAQs

1. What is ADHICS?

ADHICS stands for Abu Dhabi Healthcare Information & Cyber Security Standard. It defines controls to protect patient health data across Abu Dhabi’s healthcare entities.

2. Who must comply with ADHICS DoH Standards?

All licensed facilities—hospitals, clinics, pharmacies, labs, insurers, and vendors handling health data in Abu Dhabi.

3. What are the compliance tiers?

“Basic” within 6 months (encryption, backups), “Transitional” in 1 year, and “Advanced” for large hospitals.

4. What happens if you don’t comply?

DoH ties license renewal to compliance. Non-compliant entities face penalties and possible service interruptions .

5. How does ADHICS align with UAE-wide systems?

It aligns with Dubai’s NABIDH and national HIE Riayati, ensuring consistent secure data exchange across the UAE .