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Trained nurses needed for healthcare sector
Kevin O'Malley, president of the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland - Medical University of Bahrain (RCSI Bahrain) has said that the GCC's healthcare sector is growing rapidly but this could be affected by the lack of trained nurses from local populations. 'The importance of nursing for the healthcare sector is often overlooked but without a constant supply of qualified nursing personnel to support patient care and the work of healthcare teams, the potential growth rate of the sector will be held back,' O'Malley added.
Abu Dhabi hospital begins rehab program for kids with hearing loss
Mafraq hospital in Abu Dhabi has announced the start of a speech rehabilitation program for children with hearing loss. A qualified phoniatrician, Dr. Amr Abdel Salam, has recently joined the hospital for language rehabilitation as well as improving auditory skills in patients suffering from severe hearing loss that showed no benefits from conventional hearing aids and received cochlear implants.
Abu Dhabi steps up enforcement of health rules
As part of an effort to ramp up enforcement of health regulations, Abu Dhabi health officials have recently closed several facilities and issued warnings to others after discovering violations that included doctors sleeping in clinics and unqualified staff posing as nurses, reported The National. The officials also suspended the medical licences of two doctors for illegally charging patients to issue sick notes.
UAE survey finds high incidence of obesity
A new health survey involving 28,000 people in the UAE has found that 68% of the participants were either overweight or obese. The study also showed that 18% were diabetic and 27% had high cholesterol levels. The study, conducted by the UAE Ministry of Health in collaboration with the Ibn Sina Pharmacy group, said urgent preventive care is needed to prevent these health issues.
Spinal deformities on rise in UAE
The incidence of spinal deformity is on the rise among children in the UAE, according to a study of 1,000 children from 85 schools in Ajman and Sharja by Gulf Medical University. A total of 48 children were found to have scolios, which is an angulation (sideward bend) of the spine that usually develops during pre-adolescent years. The report blames heavy school bags and slouched postures while watching TV and playing computer games as two factors that are leading to the increase in spinal deformities.
Abayas found with carcinogens
The Dubai Central Laboratory has said it is testing dozens of clothing materials that may have carcinogenic elements, Gulf News has reported. The tests are being conducted on abayas, and shailahs or scarfs used to cover the head. Some apparels are also being tested as the DLC found heavy metals and carcinogens in the dyes and chemicals used to help prints adhere to the material.
Sharjah healthcare centre opens
A primary health centre has opened in Sharjah's Maleeha district. The new centre has a preventive medicine department, a mother and child health department, and a school health department, as well as general and dental clinics, and will offer primary and emergency care to over 2,500 residents in Maleeha and its neighbouring areas.
Alzheimer's drug shows promise
Scientists at University College London said a potential treatment for Alzheimer's has given promising results in its first clinical trial. The new drug, called CPHPC, successfully removed a blood protein called SAP, which is believed to be involved in the formation of damaging 'plaques' in the brain of Alzheimers patients. The results were 'cause for cautious optimism', said Rebecca Wood, head of the Alzheimer's research trust, which part-funded the study.
UAE launches diabetes website
The UAE Ministry of Health is launching an online diabetes registry to gather data about patients across the country and inform the public about the disease. Doctors will also be able to use the website to find the latest treatment guidelines and track the progress of their patients. The website is part of the ministry's 10-year plan to reduce rates of diabetes in the country, reported The National.
Saudi agency to monitor medical drugs
The Saudi Food and Drug Authority has launched a national centre to monitor the safety of medicines that are being sold in the Kingdom, Arab News has reported. 'The new centre will also take up within a month the mission of monitoring medicines by checking their registration, prices and validity,' said Dr. Ghazi Al-Saeed, the centre's director. 'We'll monitor all aspects to ensure the safety of medicines, including their storage, marketing and wrong usage.' All powers related to medicine sales are also to be transferred to the centre, in coordination with the Ministry of Health.
Abu Dhabi offers cervical cancer jab
The Health Authority-Abu Dhabi is offering vaccinations for cervical cancer to girls at all schools in the emirate, following a successful 2008 pilot programme. The three-dose vaccinations, which were administered by school nurses, required the consent of the girls and their parents or guardians. 'This is one of the very few cancers for which there is a vaccination,' said Dr Ally Abdel Razek, the executive director of the Gulf International Cancer Centre in Abu Dhabi. Cervical cancer is the second most common form of cancer in the UAE, behind breast cancer, according to the Ministry of Health.
Unified pharmacy practices set for UAE
The Health Authority in Abu Dhabi (Haad) is planning to improve pharmacy laws in throughout the UAE. Protocols are being investigated that would standardise pharmacies in public and private sector hospitals, according to Dr Mohammed Abu Elkhair, Head, Pharma/Medicine and Medical Products Regulation Section at Haad. He said that administrators at private hospitals are responsive once they see the cost saving benefits of a standardised system.
Noor Dubai treats 500,000
Noor Dubai, the UAE-based charity initiative, in cooperation with the Lions Club International Foundation, has successfully treated 400,000 people in Ethiopia, Mali, Cameroon and Uganda, as well as 100,000 people across the Middle East and South Asia by providing cataract surgeries, medication and corrective eyewear. 'We are honoured to have crossed the half-way mark in less than six months, thanks to our pioneering partners, and are confident of achieving our goal,' Qadhi Saeed Al Murooshid, CEO of Noor Dubai and Director General of the Dubai Health Authority said.
Hamdan e-University launches e-health conference
The first annual conference on e-health organised by the Hamdan Bin Mohammed e-University, was inaugurated by Humaid Al Qattami, Minister of Health. The conference, under the theme 'The Virtual Dimensions of Health and Environment', will provide participants with the latest information on e-health developments, and will discuss environmental issues in relation to health issues as well as holistic alternatives.
UAE MoHto expand emergency departments
The CEO for Health Policies at the Ministry of Health, Dr Mahmoud Fikri, said that expansion works would be completed at the emergency departments of Saqr Hospital in Ras Al Khaimah and Fujairah Hospital in Fujairah this year. 'We are upgrading the emergency services with more beds, and advanced medical equipment, and preparing our staff to manage major emergencies. In a few months, we will also open the heart centre in Al Qassimi Hospital which will be equipped to handle any type of cardiac emergencies,' Fikri said. 'We do upgrade all our facilities every four to five years. But this year, we are focusing more on emergency services.'
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