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Saudi to get 1m swine flu vaccines in 3 weeks
The Saudi Health Ministry has said that it will receive one million vaccines for the A(H1N1) virus within the next three weeks, KUNA has reported. This will be followed by other dispatches of some six million shots, the ministry said.
Kuwait considers sending patients to South Korea
Kuwait's Ministry of Health is considering sending some of its patients to South Korean hospitals for treatment, Kuna has reported, due to their advanced medical facilities and highly trained staff. The ministry is also thinking of sending Kuwaiti doctors to the Far Eastern country for training, especially in the field of spinal cord surgery. South Korea is aiming to become the number one destination for foreign travelling patients, especially those from oil-rich Gulf countries.
Kuwait's H1N1 vaccine due in October
The first batch of the swine flu vaccines will arrive in Kuwait in October, the country's Ministry of Health has said. A total of 145,000 vaccines will be distributed, as recommended by the World Health Organization, to children, chronically-ill individuals, the obese, pregnant women, in addition to senior state officials, medical practitioners and security officers, a ministry official said.
Neopharma gets UAE clearance on flu drug
Abu Dhabi-based pharmaceuticals manufacturer Neopharma has announced it has been cleared by the UAE Ministry of Health for its anti-viral medication Oseltamivir BR Flu. The antiviral medicine is the outcome of a joint venture with pharmaceuticals major Hetero Drugs Ltd.
Moorfields inks Saudi Insurance agreement
The Dubai branch of the UK-based Moorfields Eye Hospital, Moorfields Eye Hospital Dubai (MEHD) has signed a direct settlement agreement with the Saudi Arabian Insurance Company (SAICO). Under the agreement, MEHD will provide specialist outpatient and day case care and treatment to patients holding valid medical cards issued by SAICO. The services and extent of treatment provided by MEHD under insurance agreements are determined by the type of insurance cover held by individual patients.
UAE hospitals adopt triage system
Government hospitals and primary health centres in the UAE have introduced a new triage system for suspected H1N1 patients following a directive from the country's health ministry, Khaleej Times has reported. Suspected patients with influenza-like illnesses are to be moved to pre-defined triage areas for detailed clinical assessment to see if there is a need for home isolation, hospitalisation and/or administration of anti-viral or admission to ICU, according
to the ministry. The authority has also arranged designated waiting areas for people with flu symptoms to prevent them from mixing with other patients and visitors in the general waiting area.
Arabs suffer from high rate of genetic disease
A new study has found that Arabs have from one of the highest rates of genetic disease in the world, The National has reported. Some 906 genetic disorders have been identified in Arabs and their descendants, according to the Centre for Arab Genomic Studies, and about 200 of those are prevalent among Arabs in the GCC alone. The study warns that the problem will require research and collaboration among medical communities.
Dubai medics told to avoid rapid tests
The UAE's Ministry of Health has banned private hospitals and clinics from carrying out 'unnecessary' swine flu tests. The ministry has ordered medics to stop the 'rapid test' which can be requested by patients and is deemed unnecessary by the Word Health Organisation (WHO). The tests can produce results within 15 minutes but they are not 100% accurate.
Julphar to manufacture H1NI vaccine
Ras Al-Khaimah based Gulf Pharmaceutical Industries (Julphar) has signed an agreement with Chinese biopharmaceuticals Hualan Biological Bacterin Co. Ltd for the exclusive supply and marketing in the Middle East and North Africa region of Hualan's H1N1 vaccine, a single shot vaccine, WAM has reported. Julphar will have exclusive rights to represent Hualan in all discussions with authorities in Mena region concerning Hualan's H1N1 vaccine. Hualan will deliver doses of A (H1N1) Influenza Vaccine and will be manufactured in Julphar.
Flu vaccine to arrive in Saudi in 15 days
A Saudi Ministry of Health spokesman has said swine flu vaccines are expected to arrive in the kingdom within two weeks, Saudi Gazzette has reported. The ministry's head of public relations, Khalid Marghalani has said on Tuesday the kingdom has reserved 'millions of vaccines from the companies producing them' that are expected to arrive in Saudi hospitals within 15 days.
Dubai simplifies radioactive material rules
The Dubai Health Authority (DHA) has signed a memorandum of understanding with Dubai Civil Defence (DCD) to streamline rules governing the use of radioactive materials in medicine, The National has reported. The MoU will enable DHA to oversee the transportation and use of radiopharmaceutical drugs in hospitals and clinics across the emirate. Previously, health care providers and companies that used the materials for procedures such as radiotherapy, and those who transported them, needed permission from several authorities, including the civil defence.
Construction begins on new Abu Dhabi hospital
United Eastern Medical, Abu Dhabi's healthcare investment and development firm, has begun construction works on Danat Al Emarat Women & Children's Hospital. Located in the Officers City area of Abu Dhabi, the $150m Danat Al Emarat Hospital will provide critically needed maternity and neonatal services in Abu Dhabi when it begins operations by the end of 2011. The 200-bed facility will be managed by Singapore-based healthcare operators ParkwayHealth.
Bahrain sets up special clinics
Bahrain has set up 22 special flu clinics across the kingdom to reduce the numbers of people visiting the accident and emergency department of Salmaniya Medical Complex for flu treatment, Gulf Daily News has reported. The clinics, which have been set up with the cooperation of the primary health care services that have designated staff for the purpose, will receive only patients with flu or flu-like symptoms.
Egypt says it will not produce H1N1 vaccine locally
The Egyptian Cabinet's Information and Decision Support Centre has said that the H1N1 vaccine will not be produced in the country, but will be purchased from international pharmaceutical companies, the Daily News Egypt has reported. Egypt has booked some 5 million doses of the new vaccine, which will be received in stages by next year.
Patients charged for H1N1 tests in Abu Dhabi
Abu Dhabi hospitals are charging patients up to Dhs1,000 ($272) for swine flu tests, which are free in Dubai, The National has reported. Patients, wary of the side effects of Tamiflu, have been demanding the tests in order to avoid taking the anti-viral drug unless they are specifically infected. However, the tests are often unnecessary, as the World Health Organisation (WHO) has said it recommends that otherwise healthy patients who have flu-like symptoms but no other complications need not be treated with antivirals or tested for the virus.
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