2004
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UAE to cut medicine prices
UAE's government Health Services will sell medicines at its own prices if pharmacies do not lower the cost of drugs, reported Gulf News. Regulations have been made to force pharmacies to reduce profit margins on drug sales to 40 per cent, but the price of medicines has actually increased.
GCC surgeons treat abnormalities
More people suffer from the congenital abnormality of cleft lip and palate in the GCC region than in the West, according to the head of Plastic Surgery Service in Oman. International cleft surgeons from the US and Germany will conduct operations before 400 delegates as a part of a three-day conference in Oman from January 29, 2005.
UAE AIDS data unavailable
A new Unicef report states that no data is available on the number of AIDS cases in the UAE, as no official figures have been compiled yet. The annual report, The State of the World's Children 2005, was launched at Dubai Press Club. It noted significant progress in the Arab region over the past decade in improving the situation of children.
AD new health insurance plan
Abu Dhabi is to introduce a new health insurance plan that will help residents to afford treatment in some of the best private and government hospitals. It will be ready to be introduced in Q1 2005, senior health officials told Gulf News.
Co-op Islami, nutrition forum
The Co-op Islami has taken a lead role in the second Arab conference for nutrition that closes in Bahrain tomorrow. The Real Halal food producer is sponsoring the event that is focusing on nutrition. Experts and food scientists will be given a platform to raise some of the more urgent issues in the local food industry and offer solutions.
Neuroscience congress opens
The 1st international congress of the Emirates Neuroscience Society was opened today by Dr. Abdul Gaffar Abdul Gafoor, President of the Emirates Medical Association. He stressed the necessity and importance of such congresses which bring benefit from international expertise and new developments and thereby enable the exchange of medical knowledge and developments.
Iraqi healthcare crisis
Iraq's health system is in a far worse condition than before the war, with mismanagement and corruption impeding relief efforts, according to doctors from the charity Medact. Surveys conducted with international aid groups and Iraqi health workers have exposed poor sanitation in many hospitals, and shortages of drugs and qualified staff.
Saudi boosts health tourism
Foreigners travelling to Saudi Arabia for health treatment will find it easier to get visas as the Kingdom tries to increase health tourism. Tourist officials will use the Haj and Umrah seasons to attract more people for treatment. Saudi nationals spend more than USD80m annually on treatment in neighbouring Arab countries.
AD new health scheme
Abu Dhabi residents will be able to get top level medical treatment with the introduction of a government health insurance plan, reported Gulf News. UAE nationals will have premiums covered by government, while expatriates can pay for a range of treatment categories and in their hospital of choice. The scheme will commence in Q1 2005.
Home for abandoned kids
A shelter for abandoned children is to be set up in Dubai which will be run by the UAE Government and a Pakistani non-governmental organisation. This will be a home for runaway camel jockeys whose plight was recently highlighted in Gulf News, and other unfortunates.
Al Jazeera Hospital to close
Abu Dhabi's Al Jazeera Hospital is no longer accepting patients and will close in a few weeks, according to Gulf News. The hospital will be merged with the Sheikh Khalifa Medical Centre to which all medical records will be transferred. Officials said the merger would aid administrative efficiency, while some local residents complained at longer the travel time.
Ministry suspends Sharjah head
The UAE Health Ministry has suspended the head of Al Qasimi Hospital in Sharjah after accusations of mismanagement in the hospital's emergency room, reported Gulf News. The action follows the death of an 11-year old boy whose family said medical staff could have done more to save his life.
UAE, healthcare free for students
All national and expatriate students can now receive free treatment in UAE government hospital and clinics, officials told Gulf News. The decision made last week applies to all students regardless of whether they have health cards or insurance, they added.
Umm Al Quwain, X-ray gift
The Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Charitable and Humanitarian Foundation has donated medical equipment valued at USD68,000 to the Umm Al Quwain Medical Zone. The medical equipment comprises six X-ray machines and dental surgery equipment.
UAE to grow organic food
The UAE is set to start growing organic fruit and vegetables in the near future, and wants to promote the use of natural products in medicines, officials told Gulf News. Organic foods are widely used in the West for their apparent health benefits. However, it is a question of convincing local farmers, officials added.
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