2007
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DHCC for alternative medicine
Dubai Healthcare City (DHCC) has set up the Complementary and Alternative Medicine Council. The council has been established by DHCC's Centre of Healthcare Planning and Quality and will be responsible for licensing complementary and alternative medicine practitioners under specific rules and regulations. Dr Aisha Abdullah, CEO, Centre of Healthcare Planning and Quality, said a survey found that almost 50% of Dubai's population has tried alternative therapies.
DHCC at Medica
Dubai Healthcare City (DHCC) has participated in the world's largest medical fair, Medica, at Dusseldorf in Germany. DHCC sent a team of nine representatives to the event last week and promoted its existing elements including the Harvard Medical School Dubai Centre and the Dubai Harvard Foundation for Medical Research. Medica attracted 4,800 exhibitors from 65 countries.
21 monitored for bird flu
21 people have been put under observation in hospitals across Saudi Arabia after developing symptoms similar to those associated with bird flu, reported the Saudi Gazette. All of the patients have tested negative for the virus thus far but a number were involved in the mass culling of 100,000 birds in various locations in the kingdom after the H5N1 strain was discovered in Al Kharj.
Weight loss drug concerns
A number of prescription medicines which aid weight loss are being sold over the counter in Dubai despite their association with some serious side effects, reported Gulf News. Accomplia, which can cause psychiatric problems, Xenical, which can produce digestive problems and Reductil, which can raise blood pressure levels, are being sold without prescription throughout the city. The UAE Health Ministry said it does not have enough inspectors to eradicate the problem.
Bird flu culling in Saudi
Saudi Arabia's Agriculture Ministry said, on Friday, that the entire stock of three poultry farms outside of Riyadh has been culled following an outbreak of bird flu, reported the AFP citing the Saudi Press Agency. No details were given as to how many birds were destroyed. Earlier last week, 50,000 birds were killed in Al Kharj after the H5N1 strain of bird flu was discovered there.
Program to combat breast cancer
The Health Authority Abu Dhabi (HAAD) will spend $22m over the next two years on breast cancer initiatives in the emirate, reported Gulf News. The plan calls for strengthening HAAD's existing network of facilities and equipment, recruiting additional staff, and training and promoting health activities to ensure women are able to monitor their own care. Statistics in 2007 showed that nearly 70% of breast cancers in Abu Dhabi are detected late.
Merck Serono ME opens in Dubai
Humaid Al Qutami, UAE Minster for Health attended the inauguration of Merck Serono Middle East's new regional office at the Dubai Biotechnology and Research Park (DuBiotech). Merck Serono is a division of Merck KGaA, the German pharmaceutical and chemical company with operations in 61 countries across the world. The new 700-square-meter new regional office will cater to Merck Serono's operations in the Middle East including 12 countries in the region. Some of Merck Serono's leading pharmaceutical products include Erbitux, a targeted therapy for the treatment of colorectal and head & neck cancers and Rebif, a disease-modifying drug used to treat relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis.
Baby food to prevent anaemia
Mumtaz, one of the UK's largest Asian food producers is launching a new Halal baby food which will help reduce anaemia. The product will be released at the Halal World Expo in Abu Dhabi. Mumtaz baby food products are developed for infants from four to seven months of age and have 20 per cent higher Halal meat content than other baby food products in a direct effort to increase iron deficiency in infants.
Spine problems common in UAE
Nearly two-thirds of the UAE population suffers from spine-related problems and most are unaware of the condition, reported Gulf News. Dr. Aslam Khan, Founder of Khan Kinetic Treatment, said many people who have structural disorders or spinal problems resort to surgery, which may be unnecessary. KKT spinal treatment is a refined non-invasive procedure, utilising sound waves to address the core spinal distortions and disturbances.
Diabetes to hit 75% in UAE
Dr Mariam Mattar, the Undersecretary for Primary Healthcare at the UAE's Ministry of Health, has said that up to 75% of the nation's population could end up being affected by diabetes, reported Gulf News. Treatment of the disease currently takes up 40% of the country's annual healthcare budget and Dr Mattar predicted that a further 680,000 people will be diagnosed with the condition in the next 20 years.
Surgery centres for Kuwait
The Undersecretary for Private Medical Affairs at Kuwait's Ministry of Health, Dr Rashid Al Rashoud, told a conference of orthopaedic surgeons last week that the country is looking to set up advanced bone fracture surgery centres, reported the KUNA. The conference delegates were told that bone fractures resulting from road traffic accidents were the biggest challenge facing surgeons in the country at the present time.
Palliative care at Tawam
Al Ain's Tawam Hospital has officially opened a palliative care unit which provides support to those suffering from terminal diseases as well as their families, reported Gulf News. The facility actually began operating at the start of the year and the team includes palliative clinicians, pain specialists, social workers, dieticians, psychiatrists and specialised nurses. The unit is also able to offer homecare support.
Diabetes walkathon this month
The 'Start Walking Prevent Diabetes' walkathon is set to take place in Abu Dhabi on November 23, World Diabetes Day, reported Gulf News. The Emirates Foundation, the Health Authority Abu Dhabi, Imperial College London Diabetes Centre and the Ministry of Health are all supporting the campaign against the disease which is thought to affect 19.5% of the UAE's population.
Dubai ups food inspections
Dubai Municipality has increased its food inspection campaigns to ensure that foods in local markets meet the required standards set by the relevant authorities, reported WAM. The campaigns have led to the closure of 231 outlets for not complying with food safety laws and regulations adopted in the emirate. About 32,000 violations were registered in the period from January to October this year.
UAE sees no harm in fast food
The UAE's health minister said there is no proof that fast food causes health problems in children, reported Gulf News. Humaid Al Qutami said the UAE will not impose regulations to restrict fast food outlets from targeting children in advertising until there is scientific proof of fast food's harmful effects. Instead, the ministry will conduct a study on fast food and step up health campaigns to educate the public.
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