Healthcare

The latest medical, medicare and medical insurance news from the healthcare and pharmaceutical sectors in the Middle East

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UAE's Hepatitis C patients in limbo
The UAE Ministry of Health has decided to hold off implementing a mandatory check for Hepatitis C during residency medical exams, which would deny expatriates who test positive their residence permit, Gulf News has reported. The ministry is pending a decision on whether to deny residency, leaving Hepatitis C patients in the UAE anxious as to whether their residencies will be revoked.
United Arab Emirates: Sunday, July 06 - 2008 at 09:49

New standard defines tomatoes
An international standard for tomatoes has been adopted, which ends the 7-year debate between countries on what qualifies as a proper tomato, agencies have reported. The new standard says tomatoes may come in one of four varieties: round, ribbed, oblong or elongated, or cherry tomatoes and cocktail tomatoes. They also must be whole, clean, free from 'foreign smell', free of pests and fresh in appearance. According to the World Health Organization, the classification will make it easier for regulators to impose safety standards while trading.
Middle East: Saturday, July 05 - 2008 at 10:37

Amphetamine use on rise in KSA
Seizures of amphetamines have risen sharply in Saudi Arabia, signaling a surge in consumption of the illegal stimulant in the kingdom, according to a report by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime. Saudi Arabia accounted for 28% of all global amphetamine seizures in 2006, the latest year for which data are available. The quantities impounded in the kingdom started to rise sharply in 2004 and reached 12.3 tonnes in 2006, reported the UK's Financial Times.
United Arab Emirates: Thursday, July 03 - 2008 at 08:32

New lab to test drugs in UAE
The UAE us building a Dhs25m ($6.8m) laboratory to test drugs sold in pharmacies to determine whether they are illegal, counterfeit or potentially dangerous, reported The National. The laboratory will be built in Sharjah and house state-of-the-art technology to test the ingredients and possible effects of drugs.
United Arab Emirates: Wednesday, July 02 - 2008 at 10:27

UAE hospitals get international accreditation
Five hospitals in Abu Dhabi have been inspected and accredited by the Health Authority Abu Dhabi in partnership with the Joint Commission International, reported Gulf News. Across the UAE, a total of 14 hospitals have been accredited by JCI. HAAD's partnership with JCI is an initiative to make sure licensure standards are applied in hospitals, ambulance care and continuum care.
United Arab Emirates: Wednesday, July 02 - 2008 at 08:10

New medical tests for UAE expats
Expatriates in the UAE will have to undergo a new set of medical fitness screening tests from today before acquiring their residency or employment visas, reported Khaleej Times. The tests are being implemented on a trial basis and may be revised in the coming months.
United Arab Emirates: Tuesday, July 01 - 2008 at 08:37

UAE hospital to note heat cases
Heat cases coming into the Rashid Hospital Trauma Centre will be noted down by the hospital from 12.30pm to slightly after 3pm, Gulf News has reported. Workers will have to provide details of their company, their work and their location to be able to catch midday break rule violators. The two-month midday break begins on Monday wherein labourers are not allowed to work during this time.
United Arab Emirates: Monday, June 30 - 2008 at 10:11

Rashid Trauma Centre 'overbooked'
The Rashid Hospital Emergency and Trauma Centre is dealing with almost four times the number of patients it was designed to handle, The National has reported. The centre was originally planned to handle 85,000 cases per year, but has attended to 80,000 people in the first quarter alone due to increases in the numbers of car crashes and construction-site accidents. The Dubai Health Authority is rushing the construction of the Jebel Ali Trauma Centre, which is expected to open by 2010.
United Arab Emirates: Sunday, June 29 - 2008 at 10:38