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Abu Dhabi places ban on Basa fish
The Abu Dhabi Food Control Authority (ADFCA) has temporarily banned the sale of Vietnamese Basa fish in local markets. The ban follows reports that the fish were feeding in irrigation waters contaminated with malachite green, a chemical classified as Class II Health Hazard toxic to human cells that cause liver tumour formation. ADFCA said the ban is pending investigation and analysis and will be overturned if it is found that the fish is fit for human consumption.
Dubai's compulsory health insurance scheme deferred
Qadhi Saeed Al Murooshid, Director-General of the Dubai Health Authority, said Dubai's compulsory health funding scheme, which was due to be rolled out early this year, has been put on hold until next year on the request of stakeholders involved in making it a success. 'Let me reassure you that providing basic healthcare for the people of Dubai and visitors is very much part of our strategy and therefore we shall implement the funding system in phases beginning in 2010,' Al Murooshid was quoted as saying by Khaleej Times.
Bahrain to set up stem cell centre
Bahrain is planning the creation of a stem cell centre to help with the treatment of diabetes. The Health Ministry public relations director Adel Ali Abdulla has said that a team of experts from Hamburg, Germany, would arrive in Manama this week to conduct an initial study on the country's needs and suggest ways to set up a unit to treat patients with diabetes. The German firm will be named once the agreement has been signed. Abdulla said a decision to set up the centre had been taken after successive studies showed rates of diabetes in Bahrain and the rest of the Gulf were increasing.
Syria to have Medical City
The Syrian-Qatari Holding Company (SQHC) has signed a number of MoUs with the Syrian government for projects that include the development of a Medical City in the country. The initial plans call for the construction of three buildings, including a 130-bed hospital, which will later be increased to 600 beds, specialist medical clinics, diagnostic services, a nursing school and accommodation facilities for medical staff and visitors.
UAE regulates import of live animals
The UAE's Minister of Environment and Water has issued a resolution to regulate import of live animals and their by-products from countries which reporting cases of the blue tongue disease. The resolution sets conditions for import of live animals, sperm, ova, and embryos according to regulations laid down by the World Organisation for Animal Health. The action followed reports issued by the OIE on appearance of the disease in live animals in some countries.
Daman probe uncovers fraudulent claims
UAE national health insurance organisation Daman has uncovered a series of fraudulent claims and malpractices after it sent out mystery shoppers to a number of healthcare providers, including pharmaceutical companies and physicians. Cases included false information being given about patients' symptoms, medical history and diagnoses, as well as claims for excessive tests and treatments which were not conducted. "Fraudulent claims that go undetected will affect the underwriting process and ultimately result in unfairly increased premiums for customers," said Daman Executive Chief Dr Michael Bitzer.
UAE in talks with Roche over joint cooperation
The UAE Ministry of Health has held talks with pharmaceuticals company Roche, looking at how the Swiss drug maker can improve preventive programmes in the UAE and the Gulf by using medicines such as the anti-viral Tamiflu. Dr Amin Al Amiri, Executive Director of Medical Practices and Licensing, said the Registration and Drug Control Department has been instructed to speed up registration procedures of new medicines. Tamiflu tablets and syrup for children, he added, will be available in the UAE within the coming few days.
Ajman hospital gets $136m for upgrade
Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Hospital in Ajman will get a relief from the increasingly high emergency cases in the emirate, as the hospital gets S$136m fund to revamp health care services in the emirate, The National has reported. Three primary care centres are planned to help reduce the number of people turning up for emergency care even when not needed.
National Investor to spend $70m in regional health services
Yahya Jalil, Director of Private Equity Division at The National Investor has told Khaleej Times that the firm plans to invest around Dhs257.6m ($70m) on various regional healthcare service sector initiatives, including setting up a medical simulation and training centre, recertification services, disease management centre and health records management. "The capital for each business is between $10m and $15m each. We plan to expand it as time goes on," Jalil said, adding that the investments will largely be in the UAE, starting with Abu Dhabi.
UAE warns hospitals to upgrade or lose licences
Dr Amin Al Amiri, CEO of Medical Practices and Licences at the Ministry of Health has warned that licenses for hospitals and medical labs across the country will not be renewed by the Ministry should they fail to implement the latest systems and practices that meet international standards within three years. Dr Al Amiri said that an international accreditation body will certify all laboratories and hospitals in the UAE, while on the longer run clinics, medical professionals, nurses and technicians will have to be accredited, too.
UAE warns against buying drugs via Internet
The UAE's Ministry of Health has issued a warning about the dangers of buying drugs for the swine flu over the Internet. The sale of antiviral drugs has soared in the wake of the swine flu, prompting online pharmacies in the West to sell them over the Internet. In response to this trend, the UAE's MOH has warned that medicine purchased over the Internet may be fake or low quality, and pointed out that Internet pharmacies are illegal in the UAE.
UAE orders 100,000 capsules of Tamiflu
Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the UAE's Deputy Prime Minister and Chairman of the National Committee on Emergency Response to Bird Flu, has instructed the Ministry of Health to buy 100,000 capsules of Tamiflu for flu treatment to replenish the country's stock. He said the Health Authority - Abu Dhabi - has been tasked with coordinating with the Ministry of Health to secure the required quantities of the medicine so as to replenish the ministry's stock.
New DNA laboratory planned for Dubai
Dubai is building a Dhs11m, fully automated DNA laboratory at the Dubai Biotechnology and Research Park (DuBiotech), acording to the executive director of the UAE Genetics Diseases Association. The new laboratory will help in screening genetic disorders including thalassemia, a genetic hereditary anaemia that affects 1 in 12 Emiratis.
Medications lacking basic information
The Abu Dhabi Poison and Drug Information Centre (PDIC) has completed a study on over-the-counter cough and cold medications and found that many of the products lacked basic information and necessary warnings. 'The labels are sometimes in different languages and do not include all the relevant information. This is something we need to change,' said Dr Yasser Sharif, the head of the medication and medical product safety section at Health Authority-Abu Dhabi.
UAE conducts drill on flu outbreak
Government health officials have conducted a mock drill for staff, training them to respond to any outbreak of swine flu in the UAE, WAM has reported. The drill staged a suspicious swine flu case was 'detected' at the airport and officials taking part in the exercise were able to practice tests on the person thought to be infected.
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