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Glaxo buys Bristol-Myers MidEast operations
GlaxoSmithKline has acquired Bristol-Myers Squibb's branded generics drugs business in Lebanon, Jordan, Syria, Libya and Yemen for $23.2m, Reuters has reported. The new acquisition comprises a portfolio of 13 branded pharmaceuticals with annual sales of $11.8m in 2008. The cash deal follows the British drug maker's 2008 purchase of Bristol's mature medicines business in Egypt and underlines the strategy goal of Glaxo becoming a leading player in branded generics in developing countries.
Iraq receives $10m for water and sanitation
The European Community has funded a $10m project to improve Iraq's water and sanitation services. Unicef is implementing the project in collaboration with the Ministry of Municipalities and Public Works and the Ministry of Municipalities in Kurdistan. The project is aimed at increasing the government's provision of services and capacity to manage and develop Iraq's water and sanitation sector.
Smoking cessation drugs to have warnings
The US Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) has ordered Pfizer Inc. and GlaxoSmithKline PLC to add strong 'black box' warnings on Pfizer's Chantix and Glaxo's Zyban, smoking cessation drugs to highlight a risk of serious mental health problems including changes in behavior, depressed mood, hostility, and suicidal thoughts. Pfizer has said it had added the warning to the prescribing instructions for its drug.
Kuwait health awareness campaign underway
Kuwait's biggest campaign for better nutrition and weight management, a joint effort between Taiba Hospital and Diet Care, provider of diet and nutrition services, has announced that its team of nutritionists has given free consultations to close to 200 individuals in the first three days of the campaign. The team of dieticians is conducting weekly visits to work places, schools, malls, and social gatherings offering free cholesterol tests, blood sugar level tests, weight assessments and consultations.
Dubai launches new health scheme for government employees
The Dubai Health Authority has launched its health insurance scheme, Enaya, for government employees and their dependents. The new scheme provides all government employees with the opportunity to have a comprehensive medical check up, which includes screening for blood pressure, diabetes, cholesterol, depression, stress, and various forms of cancer such as skin, breast and cervical cancer. Enaya also provides cover for pre-existing medical conditions.
Saudis seek treatment in Jordan
According to a report in Saudi Arabia's Al-Riyadh newspaper, approximately 23,000 Saudis, most of them living in the northern region of the kingdom, had sought medical treatment in neighbouring Jordan. The report said the major reason for the exodus was the lack of satisfactory care in their areas.
Dubai Investments to expand pharma unit
Khalid Kalban, Managing Director and CEO of Dubai Investments, has said the company will be spending up to Dhs30m on expanding existing facilities and building warehouses for its subsidiary pharmaceuticals manufacturer Globalpharma, which it recently fully acquired. The group is also planning to use its private equity subsidiary M'Sharie to expand into the Saudi market, reported Emirates Business.
Kuwait doctors to get new pension scheme
Kuwait's Ministry of Health has drafted a new pension scheme for doctors and other professionals in the medical sector. The new pension plan has been referred to the health minister. According to the new scheme, the Public Authority for Social Security (PASS) will not have the final word in this regard as the Ministry of Health''s Medical Council will have the final decision, reported Al Watan newspaper.
Jeddah to build largest dialysis centre in ME
The biggest dialysis centre in the Middle East, equipped with 140 machines to serve 800 patients daily, will be established in Jeddah at a cost of SR60 million, reported Arab News. The centre will be named after the late Makkah governor, Prince Abdul Majeed, and will be fully funded by the Prince Fahd bin Salman Charitable Foundation for the Care of Kidney Patients. The three-story centre, which will be constructed in 18 months, will be built on a 10,000 sq. metre site at the King Fahd General Hospital in Jeddah.
Child vaccination program begins in Jordan
Jordan has received a shipment of 15,000 pneumococcal 7-valent conjugate vaccine doses as a donation from US-based Wyeth Pharmaceuticals to help boost the kingdom's efforts to combat pneumococcal disease. Five thousand children living in the Ajloon region, which was selected by the country's ministry of health, will be vaccinated against life threatening diseases like meningitis, bacteraemia and septicaemia.
Muscat hospital signs teaching deal
Oman's Muscat Private Hospital, the first private hospital in the Sultanate to conduct open heart surgery, has signed a partnership with the Oman Medical College to teach 80 third year medical students over the coming months. According to the agreement, students and their faculty advisors will also be able to participate in the research activities in their particular fields.
American Hospital opens fetal and maternal unit
The American Hospital Dubai has announced it opened a subspecialty in obstetrics called 'Fetal / Maternal Medicine' in UK, and 'Perinatology' in the US. The facility offers advanced fetal scanning technology and dedicated specialists to examine the fetus at a very early stage and identify possible problems.
Al Ain hospital inks Philips agreement
Al-Ain's Tawam Hospital has signed a reference site agreement with Philips Electronics Middle East and Africa for Philips' iSite Picture Archiving and Communication System (Pacs), which is an image management system that integrates with the Hospital Information System and provides a seamless workflow across the enterprise. The iSite solution facilitates the management of image data for safe storage and distribution, and provides clinicians with quick access to images from any location.
Medsol expands its network in Gulf
Medsol, part of Gulf Healthcare International (GHI), has announced it has expanded its operations in the Gulf by acquiring new laboratories in UAE and Kuwait. In the UAE, Medsol has acquired the Al Khaleej Lab (Al Ain), Lab Tech (Sharjah), Mediplus (Sharjah), and Al Abbar laboratories (Dubai), while in Kuwait it has acquired the laboratory department of Specialised Clinic Center, a group practise in the heart of the Hawalli suburb. The new acquisitions take Medsol's network to 14 operational laboratories, eight in the UAE, five in Kuwait and one in Saudi Arabia.
GCC faces challenges to meet healthcare levels
The new report by Ithmar Capital reveals that a total of 138,965 hospital beds, 140,334 physicians, and 227,079 nurses will be required by 2050 to maintain current healthcare levels in the GCC. The report calls on policy makers to engage with the private sector to expand, consolidate and support healthcare in the region.
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