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UAE doctors warn of blood shortages
Doctors in the UAE warned yesterday that the country's hospitals may soon run short of blood supplies because of the rising population and the prevalence in the UAE of blood disorders, reported The National. Healthcare professionals said a significant increase in the number of donors was needed to keep up with demand. Last year, one per cent of the population donated blood, giving 86,000 units.
UAE to put graphic photos on cigarette packs
From September, tobacco products in the UAE will carry new labels that will include pictures of blackened lungs and a haemorrhage-impacted brain to warn about the hazards of smoking, reported Gulf News. The pictures, which were donated by the World Health Organisation (WHO), also appear on cigarette packs sold in the UK, Canada and Brazil.
German hospital to open in 2010
The German General Hospital in Abu Dhabi is scheduled to be open in the final quarter of 2010, according to a statement. The 40,000sqm facility in Khalifa City A, will house 100 beds and be operated and managed by German medical staff. A further clinic, the Al Rawdah German Medical Centre, wil be opened in downtown Abu Dhabi.
Qatar diabetes cases drop
Cases of diabetes in Qatar have fallen significantly over the past decade due to increased public awareness and improved care being offered in the country. A recently released National Health Survey shows prevalence of diabetes among adults in Qatar in 2006 stood at 8.3% against 15% recorded in 1998. Currently there are diabetes centres in 16 Private Health Clinics in Qatar.
Health Leadership candidates chosen
A total of 28 health professionals from across the Arab region have been selected for the Middle East Health Leadership Programme (MEHLP) 2009. The MEHLP is an initiative of Johnson and Johnson Corporate Citizenship Trust — Middle East Branch in partnership with Insead, Abu Dhabi. The programme aims to provide healthcare policymakers with business and leadership skills required to deliver world class healthcare services to patients across the region.
Dubai physicians get new license online
Over 3,000 Dubai-based physicians have now completed the first stage of the new licensing programme, The Dubai Health Authority has announced. Phase 1 of the DHA health regulation programme requires all physicians working for the Department of Health and Medical Services (DoHMS), all physicians working in the private sector and those currently employed by Dubai Police and Municipality to apply for a new license to practise in Dubai.
GCC couples urged to get marriage blood tests
Doctors in the Middle East are renewing their call for couples in the region to get blood test screening done before marriage in an effort to detect whether they are carriers of Thalassemia, the most common, inherited single gene disorder in the world. 'If both potential parents have the thalassemia trait, there is a 25% chance their child will be born with the severe form of thalassemia,' says Dr. Essam Dohair, Coordinator, Dubai Thalassemia Center. People with thalassemia are found anywhere in the world, but it is most commonly found among particular ethnicities, including those persons of Middle Eastern or Gulf ancestry.
Foot-and-mouth outbreaks lead to import ban
The UAE has announced a ban on the import of live cloven-hoofed animals such as sheep and goats from Lebanon, Taiwan and China because of outbreaks of foot-and-mouth disease in the three nations, reported The National. Officials say the ban is a precautionary measure as only modest numbers of live animals were imported from the affected countries. Most live-animal imports in the come from Australia and Europe, while only a few hundred are from Lebanon, Taiwan and China.
GCC may standardise drug prices
The six GCC countries are considering a plan to standardise prices of drugs across the Gulf States to help make healthcare more affordable, reported Kuwait Times. The plan includes reviewing the prevailing prices of medicines and determining the lowest price which will then be adopted officially.
$1m raised for Yemeni cancer patients
More than one million dollars was raised for the treatment of Yemeni cancer patients during a regional conference held in Sana'a on Monday. Donations were provided by officials, citizens, the representatives of banks, companies, and associations from Yemen and the GCC countries, who attended the fourth conference for the Gulf Union to Fight Cancer.
RAK to offer free child dental checks
Ras Al Khaimah will offer free dental check ups for children in the emirate next month. The scheme will also include lectures and workshops for parents, teachers and nurses.
Abu Dhabi to have workers' hospital
A new hospital is to be built for workers in the Al Mafraq area, set to be completed by 2011. The new workers' hospital is to offer 60 beds and will be the first hospital for workers in the country. In addition 25 new specialty clinics are to be run by a private healthcare company as part of a 10-year plan to provide better health services in the capital.
UAE health market worth $12bn by 2015
The healthcare market in the UAE will be worth almost $12bn by 2015. Around $3bn will account for wellness products and services sectors. The biggest selling products are anti-ageing treatments. The industry is estimated to be worth $1 trillion globally.
Qatar launches rotavirus vaccination
Qatar's Ministry of Health has launched the vaccination campaign against rotavirus, which causes high fever, persistent vomiting and explosive watery diarrhoea resulting in dehydration and electrolyte imbalance among children, The Peninsula has reported. The vaccine will be available to all infants aged between two and four months at the Primary Healthcare Centres beginning March 1.
10,000 receive free health check-ups in Dubai
An estimated 10,000 people received free health checks during the month-long Family Health Festival in Dubai, organizers said. The initiative was supported by Dubai Shopping Festival (DSF), Dubai Health Care City (DHCC), Global Village while Green Crescent Insurance Company was the main sponsor.
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