2006
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Dubai targets patients' rights
Dubai's health authority has clarified patients' rights at its hospitals and clinics, with the publication of an information booklet, in Arabic and English, reported Gulf News. A total of 27 rights are guaranteed including the right to refuse treatment, ask for a specific doctor and receive immediate care. The Dubai Department of Health and Medical Services said the booklet will be distributed to the public upon arrival at its centres.
Private hospital for AD
Abu Dhabi is set to have a 300 bed private hospital exclusively for women and children within the next two years, reported Gulf News. United Eastern Medical Services has revealed that work on the $81.7m Mother of Emirates Hospital, which will cover a an area of 90,000 sqft, will start next year. The hospital will provide specialised outpatient clinics, a one day surgery section and an internal residence section.
Breast cancer campaign
Friends of Cancer Patients launched the National Breast Cancer Screening Campaign on Thursday at the Mother and Child Health Centre in Sharjah. During the two month campaign, free testing for early breast cancer detection via a mammogram machine is being provided. Additionally, brochures and booklets about breast cancer and the ways it can be prevented are being distributed.
UHN checks for diabetes
The UAE Heart Network is sponsoring a series of diabetes-related health checks at Dubai's Ibn Battuta Mall to mark World Diabetes Day on 27 November 2006. UAE residents can have their blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar levels tested, and find out their body mass index. The aim is to test for insulin resistance that causes obesity, diabetes and cardiovascular disease.
Yemen woos donors
Yemeni officials hope the country's recent elections will encourage international donors to raise $5bn to fight poverty, the BBC reports. Yemen is the poorest country in the Middle East with nearly 50% illiteracy and one in twenty women dying in childbirth. Yemen's oil, which represents 70% of government income, is expected to dry up within ten years.
Shell Better Environment 2007
Shell is expanding its 2007 Better Environment Award to make it more challenging, with larger projects and more funding available. Schoolchildren taking part can choose themes including road safety, toxic waste and smoking and obesity, which are relevant to the UAE. BEA 2007 is supported by the UAE Ministry of Education.
Moorfields to open at DHCC
A Dubai branch of UK-based Moorfields Eye Hospital will open at Dubai Healthcare City in Q2 2007. The branch will be located in the Al Razi Medical Complex. Moorfields is one of the largest centres for ophthalmic treatment, teaching and research in the world, which last year carried out more than 23,000 operations, according to statement issued on behalf of DHCC.
Arab Vit D deficiency
Vitamin D deficiency in UAE women will be studied at the Arab Health Conference in January 2007. Doctors say that lack of exposure to sunlight is a major factor in the deficiency, which can lead to osteoporosis. They blame a combination of cultural and biological factors for the high incidence of the disease.
'Bionic ear' surgery in Dubai
Dubai Hospital will include cochlear implant surgery in its list of services, after becoming the first UAE public hospital to perform the procedure, Gulf News reported. Doctors at the hospital recently performed 'bionic ear' surgery on a 35-year-old woman. The operation can be performed on children as young as six months, a health official said.
Diabetes treatment, $1bn a year
Treating diabetes is costing the Saudi government more than $1bn, according the kingdom's health minister quoted in Arab News. He said the illness is rapidly spreading among Saudi children because of unhealthy lifestyles. Saudi health authorities have set up 20 new projects to treat diabetes.
Diabetes screening to start
As part of plans to lower the rate of diabetes in the country, regular testing for the disease will be conducted from 2007 as part of general medical checks, such as for obtaining a driver's licence, according to Gulf News. One in four people in the UAE aged above 20 are affected by the disease, according to World Health Organisation figures; while the Imperial College London Diabetes Centre in Abu Dhabi predicts that on current trends 65% of the population will have diabetes by 2010.
Bayer, Kogenate FS in Mideast
Bayer HealthCare has launched Kogenate FS in the Middle East. Kogenate FS is Bayer's advanced recombinant factor VIII product for the treatment of haemophilia A, a bleeding disorder characterised by deficient or defective levels of the blood clotting protein known as factor VIII. As a recombinant form of factor VIII, Kogenate FS is not derived from human plasma and therefore the theoretical risk of pathogen contamination is extremely remote.
Qatar immunisation drive
Qatar's National Health Authority is this week undertaking a major immunisation drive aimed at children aged from two months up to five years, reported The Peninsula. The campaign is aimed at ensuring immunity against the wild polio virus, measles, rubella and pneumococcal diseases. The vaccines being offered include oral polio virus, MMR and pneumococcal conjugate vaccine.
Compensation for infection
The UAE Ministry of Health is considering setting up a compensation scheme for laboratory workers at government hospitals who are infected by hepatitis or the HIV virus while at work, reported Gulf News. The ministry currently requires all technicians to undergo blood tests by the end of November every year, when previously it was only at the time of renewal of their three year residency visas.
Breast cancer film screening
CineStar Cinemas and Le Meridian Abu Dhabi teamed up recently to support the Breast Cancer Awareness campaign when they jointly organised a special screening of the movie 'The Devil Wears Prada' followed by an auction and dinner at the hotel. The Bin Salem Group was the main sponsor for the event and several companies including Cygnet, El Fuala Trading and El Hanoof made donations to the auction.
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