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UAE H1N1 website launched
Emirates Mobile Hospital, in coordination with the UAE's National Crisis and Emergency Management Authority, has launched the first website to educate the public about the prevention, diagnosing and treatment of H1N1 Virus. The website www.uaehealthawareness.org includes detailed information about treatment, prevention and information about the activities of the national awareness campaign about the disease.
Kims Oman Hospital to open this week
Kims Oman Hospital, a joint venture between the Trivandrum-based Kerala Institute of Medical Sciences and Omani businessman Shaikh Mustahil Al Maashani is due to open on Monday in Muscat. The new multi-speciality hospital will initially have 50 beds to be expanded to 150 later, Executive Director VMA Hakkim said. It will open with 16 doctors, the number rising to 25 within a few weeks, he added.
Jordan to buy H1N1 vaccine
Jordan's government has approved purchasing enough quantities of the H1N1 (swine) flu vaccine to cover 80% of the population at a total cost of JD72 million, a Health Ministry official said. The ministry will contact the pharmaceutical companies that are developing the vaccine and arrange to buy the required quantity as soon as it is ready. The H1N1 vaccine is currently being developed by several European manufacturers, and is expected to be available in October.
Al Raffah Hospital opens in Muscat
Dr. Moopen's Group has announced the opening of its first hospital in Oman - the Al Raffah Hospital in Al Ghobra, Muscat. The hospital offers two modern Operation Theatres with laparoscopic surgical facilities to perform minimally invasive surgeries. Diagnostic facilities include a 6 slice CT, 3D/4D Ultrasound scanners, and laboratory with exclusive facilities for visa medical screening. The hospital has 40 beds in the initial phase and will be expanded to 100 beds in the second phase.
Dubai hospital opens rehab unit
Dubai's Rashid Hospital has opened an eight-bed rehabilitation unit for patients who have suffered severe trauma cases, such as spinal or brain injuries. The unit has five staff and 21 nurses. Daily care includes three hours of treatment by speech therapists, psychologists, physiotherapists and medical doctors.
Overseas Emirati students face swine flu checks
The UAE Health Authority is to send medical teams to its embassies based in countries that have been hit by swine flu, such as the US and Australia, to screen students using thermal scanners. Students suspected of carrying the H1N1 virus will be quarantined. "This will reassure everyone and prevent panic until all students studying abroad have been checked, especially those coming from the US, Australia, Canada and Europe, where the majority of UAE students are," Humaid Al Qutami, Minister of Education said.
Qatar announces first H1N1 flu cases
Qatar has announced two cases of the H1N1 flu virus in two foreign children who arrived from the US and Austria, the first cases in the country, Reuters reported. The first case was a two-year-old boy from New Zealand who arrived on Saturday with his family from Austria and the second was a two-and-a-half-year old American boy who came from New York on Sunday via Bangladesh.
Swine flu drugs sold illegally in Bahrain
Bahrain's Health Ministry is investigating reports about healthcare workers who have been offering patients Tamiflu tablets under the counter for as much as BD150, while a five-day course of the drug normally costs BD18.735, the Gulf Daily News reported. A ministry spokesman said it was likely some facilities were 're-selling' the Tamiflu stocks that the ministry had provided them. 'While there is no swine flu vaccine as yet, we would want to once again caution the people against buying Tamiflu capsules at such exorbitant prices,' the spokesman said.
HealthPlus to open 20 new health centres in Abu Dhabi
Abu Dhabi-based United Eastern Medical (UEMedical) has announced it plans to establish a network of health centres in Abu Dhabi under the name of HealthPlus, which aims to provide outpatient medical services in at 20 locations throughout the UAE capital. The centres, which will include family health centers, will all be electronically linked through a health information management system with electronic medical records.
Badie Group plan Abu Dhabi hospital
Abu Dhabi-based Al Badie Group is planning to set up a 200-bed hospital in Khalifa City, Abu Dhabi, which will focus on acute, post-acute, rehabilitation and day surgery patients reported Emirates Business citing a source at Cyril Sweett, the global consultancy firm. 'The Al Badie Hospital project's value is confidential but we are working closely with the client through the selection and negotiation with potential operators to manage the hospital on behalf of Al Badie Group. This process includes a global search for suitable organizations,' the source said.
New swine flu cases confirmed in Saudi, Bahrain
New cases of swine flu have been detected in Saudi Arabia and Bahrain, reported Arab News. In Saudi Arabia, three new cases, includes a Mauritanian coming from Canada via the UAE, have brough the total number of cases detected in the kingdom at 11. The other two cases are those of a three-year-old boy and a seven-year-old girl. In Bahrain, seven students who returned from the US on Saturday tested positive for the H1N1 virus.
Pfizer eyes Mideast acquisitions
Guy Lallemand, Pfizer's regional president for Africa & Middle East, has told Bloomberg that the region's respect for patents, openness toward clinical trials and rapid review of products has encouraged the US-based firm to consider making acquisitions in the more established markets such as Egypt, Saudi Arabia and the rest of the Gulf. 2009 Middle East sales are expected to be around $500 million and the company is forecasting between 8% and 10% annual growth, he said. Iraq, Iran and Syria are among markets where Pfizer is looking to expand its business, Lallemand added.
Eastern Medical plans Abu Dhabi acquisitions
Abu Dhabi-based United Eastern Medical Services is negotiating for the acquisition of stakes in two Abu Dhabi-based medical centres and is also looking at suppliers, according to the firm's CEO. Mohammed Ali Al Shorafa said funding of the projects and investment plans for acquisitions and joint ventures will be raised through both equity and credit. The group plans a number of further acquisitions and joint ventures over the next 10 years, according to Emirates Business.
UAE warning on plastic surgery supplies
The UAE Ministry of Health (MoH) has ordered all public and private hospitals, pharmacies and pharmaceutical companies to immediately stop selling, buying and using what it describes as 'unregistered low-quality chemicals that are being used in plastic surgeries and cosmetic procedures,' unless they are officially registered at the MoH. These materials, which are of unknown origin, do not meet the country's safety and quality requirements and have been proven to have side-effects, said a ministry official.
UAE may get flu vaccine by September
The UAE will have access to the new swine flu vaccine manufactured by Novartis AG if it is available on the market by September, Gulf News has reported. The H1N1 thermal scanners will also be replaced with new advanced technology at all airports and seaports, as well as other checkpoints.
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