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Abu Dhabi inks data sharing agreement
Health Authority-Abu Dhabi (HAAD) has signed a service level agreement with Abu Dhabi Systems and Information Centre (ADSIC) to facilitate the sharing of geospatial data among government agencies and other stakeholders. HAAD will ensure that any documentation, including data, codes and technical classifications needed for effective use of Spatial Data is made available to other AD-SDI community members, while ADSIC will be responsible for adopting measures for the sharing of Spatial Data among AD-SDI community members or other parties.
UAE plan to tackle Emirati nurse shortage
The UAE plans to launch a degree programme aimed at tackling the severe shortage of Emirati female nurses, The National has reported. The proposed programme would consolidate existing diploma degrees in the Higher Colleges of Technology (HCT) into a single bachelor's programme, the minister of health said. The plan also involves the formulation of a strategy to develop the profession across the country, devising rules that determine whether hospitals and medical centres are equipped to train prospective nurses, accreditation of the new degrees and development of training and education facilities.
Kuwait tops healthcare ad spend
A study by the Pan Arab Research Centre in Dubai estimates the total advertising spend value of the whole healthcare sector in the GCC at $162m, 9% of which comes from the UAE, Khaleej Times has reported. 'This is for the period from January to September of this year. The full-year estimate could reach some $215million,' general manager of the centre, Sami Raffoul told the UAE's first conference on health advertisements. Forty-one percent of the estimated total is on Pan Arab media, 12% in Saudi Arabia, 29% in Kuwait, and 9% in other GCC countries, he said.
ADIH unveils healthcare fund
Wellpharma Holding, the healthcare and pharmaceutical investment arm of Abu Dhabi Investment House (ADIH), has announced the launch of the Wellpharma Medical Solutions Fund. The fund will invest in the development and operation of a local production facility in Abu Dhabi that will specialize in the manufacturing and distribution of high-quality Intravenous (IV) Solutions for medical treatments. The project has received in-principle approval from the Ministry of Health and the support of the Health Authority in Abu Dhabi.
Saudi sets H1N1 vaccine deadline
Saudi Arabia's ministry of health has given resident in the kingdom intending to perform the Haj pilgrimage until November 22 to receive the swine flu vaccine, Saudi Gazette has reported. The vaccine is available at all public health facilities across the country, the ministry said.
Abu Dhabi Health Authority to test 105 medicines
A team of experts from Health Authority-Abu Dhabi (HAAD) have removed stocks of some remedies from pharmacies, after a survey found that many over-the-counter cough and cold medicines sold in the country do not comply with international safety standards, The National has reported. In total, 105 medicines, all of which were legally registered by the ministry of health, are being tested by the Poison Drug and Information Centre (PDIC) at HAAD. The authority said further products were likely to be removed. HAAD declined to reveal the exact names of the products affected and was unable to confirm the amount of stock withdrawn.
Rashid Hospital opens cath suite
Dubai-based Rashid Hospital has inaugurated a dedicated catheterization suite to cater to the growing number of cardiac cases the hospital receives. The new suite is equipped with a procedure room and has eight beds for patients, a control room for all the equipment and monitors and seminar room and an on-call room for doctors. Rashid Hospital saw 1,600 admissions to the cardiology department last year.
Misonix inks Xenith distribution deal
US-based developer of minimally invasive ultrasonic medical device technology Misonix, has signed a three-year distribution agreement with Duba-based Xenith for the distribution of the SonaStar Ultrasonic Surgical Aspirator, the BoneScalpel Ultrasonic Bone Cutter, and the SonicOne Ultrasonic Wound Debrider. The agreement provides Xenith with the exclusive rights to sell in the UAE and other select markets and includes minimum purchase requirements.
Seha opens new ambulatory clinic in Al Ain
The Abu Dhabi Health Services Company (SEHA) has opened a new Ambulatory Healthcare Center to cater to the Al Muwaiji Community in Al Ain, third new clinic of its type added to the SEHA - AHS network. The Al Muwaiji Healthcare Centre houses experienced specialist consultants that offer diagnosis, treatment and consultation, and will operate five days a week, Sunday to Thursday, from 8 am to 11 pm as well as the Poly Clinic on Saturdays and public holidays.
Nine H1N1 cases among pilgrims
Saudi Health Minister has said that nine people out of more than half a million who have arrived for the annual pilgrimage have been diagnosed with swine flu, AFP has reported. 'We are very happy. Out of the 600,000 arriving so far, we have only seen nine suspected cases of A(H1N1), and only two of those are in the hospital. The rest were treated and they were discharged,' Dr Abdullah al-Rabeeah told the news service.
Only govt health centres to offer H1N1 vaccine in UAE
The chaiman of the UAE's Technical H1N1 Committee has said that the H1N1 vaccine will be administered free of charge only in designated government health centres, Khaleej Times has reported. Private medical establishments in the country will not be allowed to carry out the vaccination, Dr Mahmoud Fikri said.
Jordan will not inoculate people with allergies
The Jordanian health ministry has said that citizens with allergies, especially those allergic to eggs, will not be inoculated against swine flu, as they may be at risk of developing serious side effects, Jordan Times has reported. 'We will prepare a checklist and distribute it before administering vaccines, where people can list their allergies, to avoid any complications that might arise,' Adel Bilbeisi, the ministry's primary healthcare director, told reporters.
Jordan's pharmaceutical exports decline
Jordan's exports of medicines since January till August of this year declined by 11.4% to JD213.3m from JD240.8m for the same period last year, according to a report by the Central Bank of Jordan. Saudi Arabia, Algeria, Sudan and Lebanon accounted for 60.5% of Jordan's total exports of pharmaceutical products during the first eight months of 2009.
Emaar Healthcare looks to Syria, Egypt
Omar al Shunnar, chief executive of Emaar Healthcare, a subsidiary of Emaar Properties, has said that in addition to planning a hospital in Dubai, the firm is considering opening medical centres in Egypt and Syria as it looks to expand abroad, The National has reported. 'Currently, it's these three markets we're keeping our eye on. We're studying whether it's feasible, whether it's the right time and what exactly we will do there,' he said.
Glaxo 'sole supplier' of Saudi H1N1 vaccine
Saudi Arabia's health ministry has said that UK-based GlaxoSmithKline is the kingdom's sole supplier of an H1N1 flu vaccine, but other firms may later be included for the supply of a nationwide inoculation campaign, Reuters has reported. 'We will in the future get vaccines from other clients, from other companies, as soon as they get approved by the Saudi Food and Drug Authority,' health ministry spokesman Khaled Mirghalani told the news service.
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