15 medical facilities shut, 15 doctors suspended in 2010 for violations

By PMA RASHEED 

24 May 2011, The Gulf Today

Dubai: About 15 medical establishments have been shut down in the UAE in 2010 by the Ministry of Health (MoH) as these facilities violated the regulations and bylaws, revealed a senior health official on Monday.
“Four of the medical establishments were closed permanently, while 11 of them face temporary closure,” said Dr Amin Al Amiri, assistant undersecretary for Medical Practices and Licensing and head of the Medical Licensing Committee at the MoH.
“About 15 doctors were suspended from practice due to cases of medical malpractice last year, and another seven doctors have been issued warning. Meanwhile, eight doctors were temporarily suspended from practice as a precautionary measure for medical negligence or malpractice based on complaints lodged by patients,” he elaborated.
“The ministry blacklisted seven other doctors due to their severe violations of the professional ethics or scientific and technical standards. Warnings were issued against 11 medical establishments after inspections carried out by officials at the medical licensing department,” he added.
According to Dr Amiri, a penalty in the form of a written warning has been issued against another medical establishment.
“The violating doctors were suspended either because of their medical negligence or for disbursing medical sick leaves for patients without checking their right to receive such leaves,” he pointed out.
The [penalties] issued to the medical facilities were based on inspections and decision of the medical licensing committee as they were proved to be violating the set of standards or regulations, said Dr Salem Al Darmaki, acting undersecretary of the MoH.
“A total of 1,140 medical facilities are operating under the supervision of the heath ministry, while about 2,305 doctors have obtained license from the federal authority to practice medical profession in the Emirates,” he added.
Statistics of the MoH’s medical licensing department indicates the significant increase in the number of medical establishments and doctors in 2010, and there is an increasing traffic for more registrations for medical practice and healthcare sector operation.
“The medical licensing department regularly follows up about 1,140 medical establishments and doctors working there to keep ensuring their adherence to the best international health standards, and the country’s regulations,” he added.
“About 163 new establishments have been licensed in 2010, while 70 facilities have been approved since the beginning of the current year,” noted Al Darmaki.
“The approved medical establishments in the private sector include 435 medical centres, 275 rehabilitation centres, 104 public clinics, 94 school health clinics, 92 specialised clinics, 73 public dental clinics, 25 hospitals, 25 diagnosis centres and 19 specialised dental clinics,” he elaborated.
Dr Al Amiri said that about 2,305 doctors have received MoH licenses, out of which 354 have been given in 2010 and 151 since the beginning of 2011.

“About 781 technicians were also licensed by the MoH last year, while the number of licensed technicians in 2011 until the date is 359. There are a total of 2,621 technicians that have been provided licences by the health ministry,” he added.

‘Immediate action on emergency medicine requirement’

By PMA RASHEED 

The Gulf Today, 10 May 2011

Dubai: All medical districts in the UAE will be provided with effective mechanism to solve problems of insufficient medicines and other issues on shortage of resources, assures health minister Dr Hanif Hassan Ali Al Qassim.

Speaking at a meeting with directors of medical districts on Monday, he said that the entire residents in the country will be able to avail the best healthcare services and enjoy global standard medical practices in various specialisations.

“More programmes are in pipeline to encourage Emiratis to work in the healthcare sector, with more continuous medical education (CME) and international training sessions for nursing and midwifery professionals to meet the serious shortage of nationals in these health professions. The MoH recently recruited 35 UAE national nurses in various hospitals,” he explained.

“The entire health facilities in the seven Emirates will be provided with sufficient quantity of medicines, medical and lab equipment. Each medical district has to submit a specific plan for its actual requirement of medicines and equipment, in order to ensure the availability of medicines in these stores,” he added.

“The mechanism will specify the quantities of available medicines in the MoH warehouses as well as at hospitals and health centres, to guarantee availability of medicines, especially for chronic diseases,” elaborated Dr Hassan.

According to him, all practices related to import, purchase and storage of medicines will be regulated. “The new mechanism will monitor the procurement, and disburse of the drugs through continuous supervision measures of the medical stores, pharmacies upon evaluating the medicine purchase orders.”

“Immediate actions will be taken on purchase orders, to meet emergency requirement of medicines. The central stores will send official circulars to the stores, pharmacies and centres in the medical districts to specify a certain timeline for receiving and ensuring the safety and non-manipulation of the medicines,” the minister concluded.

Dubai clinics require special license for immunisation

By PMA RASHEED 

The Gulf Today, 9 May 2011

DUBAI: Private clinics providing vaccination services in Dubai will now have to obtain a new licence as Vaccine Qualified Clinics (VQCs) from Dubai Health Authority (DHA).
The authority on Sunday has announced its new immunisation policy with comprehensive guidelines to standardise immunisation services at the emirate’s hospitals and clinics, which will be connected to a unified immunisation reporting and recording mechanism.
According to the policy, all healthcare facilities in the emirate will require to fulfill specific requirements if they want to continue providing childhood immunisation services.
A senior health official indicated that parents could now make sure that their children are receiving potent and safe vaccines through the VQCs system. The DHA’s health regulation department will monitor functions at the VQC licensed centres to ensure safe practice and compliance to the new system.
Qadhi Saeed Al Murooshid, director general of the DHA, said that it’s all about assuring global standards of safety and efficiency and better access for Dubai residents to various immunisation services, with special emphasis on child immunisation programmes.
“Once the new policy is in practice and both the private and the government sectors have been put into the unified system, Dubai can benchmark itself internationally in terms of immunisation services,” he added.
“The immunisation services presently provided by private and government health facilities in Dubai, are inadequately coordinated, even though vaccinations protect the community from several life-threatening diseases,” pointed out Al Murooshid.
All immunisation services in Dubai will be streamlined with the implementation of the policy to improve quality of the services, said Laila Al Jassmi, CEO of Health Policy and Strategy Department at the DHA.
“The unified immunisation policy will cover all hospitals and health clinics in the private, government and free zone segments of the emirate. The authority will monitor the process of administering vaccines at all the licensed facilities,” she added.
Dr Ali Ali Marzooqi, Director of Public Health and Safety at the DHA, said that the system will provide technical guidance to healthcare providers to ensure they follow best practices, in terms of administering and storing vaccines.
“However, meeting the new licence criteria will not be a difficult task for the healthcare facilities, as a majority of them are already fulfilling their licensing conditions to provide these services,” he noted.

New by-laws for expat medical tests on anvil

BY PMA RASHEED

4 May 2011, The Gulf Today

Dubai: About 21 per cent of the total Asian job-seekers who underwent medical examinations before obtaining their UAE residence visa in 2009 had tuberculosis, the Ministry of Health (MoH) revealed on Tuesday.

This serious situation prompted the UAE authorities to think about implementing strong regulations in regard to the medical examination procedures for foreign workforce entering the country, says a senior health official.

Dr Mahmoud Fikri, Assistant Undersecretary for Health Policies at the MoH, indicated that the ministry, in the process of implementing the recent decision of Ministerial Service Council, is currently preparing new by-laws for the residency medical examination of expatriates who should get their medical check-ups done in their countries of origin before arrival in the UAE.

“The new regulation on getting medical fitness certificate for all new expatriates aims to prevent the spread of communicable diseases and reduce the financial burden of managing expatriates affected by contagious diseases,” he added.

“The current mechanism for expatriate medical tests in the UAE has been efficient for more than 30 years to manage low rates of infectious diseases in the country, as the system insists on expats repeating the medical tests at the time of every residency visa renewal,” Dr Fikri noted.

“But it was noticed later that the rate of infectious diseases increased among certain categories of labourers coming from some countries where communicable diseases are endemic,” he pointed out.

“The national committee for expatriate medical tests reviewed the check-up mechanism and reported to the higher authorities to implement necessary precaution procedures to stop entry of foreign workers with contagious illnesses,” he said.

“However, all the expatriate workers will have to undergo a second round of medical tests in the UAE before obtaining their residency visa. This is to ensure that the expatriates don’t breach the law by producing fraudulent medical fitness certificates,” underscored Dr Fikri.

According to him, the committee is currently analysing the mechanism followed by the GCC Health Ministries Council to ensure the arrival of expatriate labourers without any infectious disease.

“The communicable diseases may disseminate locally, even if the affected persons stay in the country for a month before discovering their diseases while undergoing the necessary procedures. Also, some people with infectious diseases run away, further putting the public health at risk,” he elaborated.

“The MoH is currently coordinating with the health authorities in Dubai and Abu Dhabi to carry out inspection visits at the visa-medical test facilities in Asian countries to ensure accuracy, safety and reliability of the examinations conducted at such centres,” said Dr Fikri.

“As cases of contagious diseases are mainly reported among the Asian workers, the UAE will also seek implementing scientific methods to transfer the tests results and other health information directly to the UAE health authorities from the workers’ home countries,” he concluded.

More health facilities to get global accreditation

By PMA RASHEED

11 April 2011, The Gulf Today

Dubai: Aimed at raising the quality standards of healthcare services, the Ministry of Health (MoH) has decided to implement more strategies and procedures that would help gain international accreditation for the country's public and private sector healthcare facilities.

The ministry had signed an agreement last year with a US Accreditation agency to evaluate the services, performance standards and practices at the ministry's healthcare facilities.

The ministry is currently speeding up the implementation of the criteria at the health facilities, by setting up a special committee in this regard, according a top MoH official.

Khalid Majid Lootah, assistant undersecretary for Institutional and Supporting Services at the MoH, said the team will supervise the accreditation procedures and an action plan. The team has begun visiting three hospitals such as Sheikh Khelifa Hospital in Ajman, Saqer Hospital in Ras Al Khaimah and Kalba Hospital.

"The accreditation project will be implemented within ten phases beginning with a training programme, formation of a supervision committee, training of the employees, supervision of the team for preparation of the hospitals in the project, field trips to hospitals and health centres, initial assessment, and preparation of final report," he added.

Dr Amina Al Marzooqi, one of the team members, said an initial assessment for the services at the hospitals has been prepared, which highlights three main aspects, such as leadership factors, administration techniques and health services and safety of patients.

Health ministry doubles drug budget to Dhs300m

By PMA RASHEED 

9 April 2011, The Gulf Today 

The fund for purchasing medicines for hospitals and health centres in the public sector has been doubled by the UAE Ministry of Health (MoH) by 100 per cent, from Dhs150 million spent in 2010 to an outlay of Dhs300 million this year.
The authority is currently implementing a new mechanism to purchase all the necessary medicines in advance for 2011, indicated a top MoH official.
Khalid Majid Lootah, assistant undersecretary for Institutional and Supporting Services at the MoH, said the procedure would identify the need for drugs at the various health facilities, while enabling each hospital to clearly specify the requirements simultaneously.
“The system will be completely implemented next year, and the MoH will give out the drugs to all hospitals based on their requirements. The issues pertaining to shortage of drugs for chronic diseases, diabetes and high blood pressure will be resolved fully once it’s fully operational,” he added.
“Painkillers and vaccinations for various diseases worth Dhs56 million have been included in the current year’s budget for drugs to be supplied at the government hospitals. The value of drugs to be purchased to be used for treatment of chronic diseases has been estimated at Dhs17 million,” he revealed.

“The total cost of medicine purchases by the ministry during the two past months had reached Dhs117 million. Around Dhs752,000 have been allocated to guarantee the required medicines at the hospitals and health centres for the coming six months,” noted Lootah. 

Dr Hanif Hassan Ali Al Qassim, UAE Minister of Health, said the decision comes to ensure essential medicines to all residents in the country, by guaranteeing sufficient quantity of medicines at the government health facilities in all medical districts.

“The federal authority has issued a circular to implement the new electronic system Wareed at all facilities. The automated system will effectively regulate the availability of medicines and rectify shortage of drugs with accuracy and efficiency,” he added.

Lootah called directors of all hospitals and health centres to inform the ministry on the drug requirement within sufficient time to speed up supply procedures easily and smoothly.

“This will enable the MoH to take the right decision at the right time, and estimate financial allocations and adopt the purchasing items according to the unified purchasing agreements in the GCC countries,” he concluded.

Unified patient registry system for UAE hospitals

The electronic linking system Wareed will integrate medical records across the country

BY PMA RASHEED

2 April 2011, The Gulf Today

The second phase of inter-and-intra hospital connectivity and information sharing system "Wareed," was implemented last week by the Ministry of Health (MoH) within public sector hospitals.

The new hospital information mechanism will automate and integrate healthcare processes and medical records across all 15 public sector hospitals, 68 affiliate clinics and 18 other medical facilities in Dubai and the Northern Emirates.

The "one patient, one registry" "Wareed" will also connect different departments within each health facility, resulting in an efficient and accessible method of monitoring patient health through a shared database and ensuring effective medical practices with the support of advanced technologies.

Once fully implemented, "Wareed" will be a single platform to source and share patient database, treatment history, information of disease and progress reports, as the system simultaneously networks hospitals and departments within them, health officials indicated.

Dr Hanif Hassan Ali Al Qassim, UAE Minister of Health said the system would enormously impact patient care in the country, eliminating existing hurdles in their path to gain access to health facilities. This is because the system enables their visits after fixing appointments over telephone or text messages.

"The ministry will set up call centres for the management of consultation appointments through the system, which in turn would ease patient traffic, once 'Wareed' is operational," he added while addressing the media.

Dr Hassan assured the new mechanism would help guarantee higher level of safety to patients and eliminate medical errors, malpractices or medical negligence. The system would resolve complaints, 70 per cent of them received from the patients, about lack of transparency.

Dr Salem Al Darmaki, acting  undersecretary at the MoH, said, "'Wareed' is already operational at Sheikh Khelifa Hospital and Mushairaf Health Centre in Ajman, since the project was implemented at the centres during its primary phase in 2009.

"During the second phase, the mechanism was fully applied at Kuwait Hospital in Sharjah recently, electronically linking the emergency, registration and appointment sections of the facility," he added.

"The MoH also has completed implementing the project at Al Qassimi Hospital in Sharjah, and is currently training employees on the system. Other health centres in the Emirate also are preparing to install the electronic system during this second phase," elaborated Dr Al Darmaki.

According to him, the final phase of "Wareed" would be completed by the end of this year.

"Sheikh Khelifa Hospital in Ajman achieved 100 per cent application of the project covering all services. So far, about 150,000 medical files have been archived."

"The system, hosted centrally at a new data centre facility in Abu Dhabi, will connect all hospitals through an advanced network infrastructure," Dr Al Darmaki concluded.

Health ministry reveals plans to curb youth health issues

By PMA RASHEED

16 March 2011, The Gulf Today

The Ministry of Health (MoH) has announced the results of the UAE Global School Health Survey 2010 on Tuesday, revealing a range of challenges, which are affecting the health of the future generation.
The survey, which was conducted in the UAE with the support of the World Health Organisation (WHO), UNICEF, UNESCO, the US Centre for Disease Control and Prevention and the International AIDS Prevention Union, involved 2,581 students in the age group of 13 to 15 years from 52 government and private schools across the UAE.
It was carried out to study accurate information on their behaviour, activities and cultural disparities that may be a factor in triggering non-communicable diseases among young people, said a top health official. 

Authorities, based on the results of the scientific research, are currently planning to develop comprehensive prevention programmes and activities targeting the youth in the country, so as to reduce the burden of morbidity, disability and early death cases among them.

The study revealed that on a daily basis, only 26.2 per cent of the students eat fruits and 17.2 per cent vegetables daily. It also pointed out that  25.6 per cent of all students often drank soft drinks such as Coke and Pepsi and about 21 per cent of the respondents regularly eat fast food from Burger King and McDonalds and Pizza Hut and KFC outlets.

Nearly 78.9 per cent of the students said they had smoked cigarettes during the past thirty days, and they started the habit for the first time at the age of 14 years. About 10.7 per cent of the students had smoked cigarettes in a day during the past thirty days.

The survey also found that 12.3 per cent of the total students, male (18.5%) and females (7.7%), have used shisha and other forms of tobacco during the past thirty days.

Dr Mahmoud Fikri, executive director for Health Policies at the MoH, said the survey provided data on the prevalence of a range of unhealthy behaviors as well as the protective measures needed to tackle the causes of fatal diseases among the young people and adults.

“The results will significantly contribute to the development of integrated health strategies to save the future generation from severe health risks. The survey also will exchange information and expertise with regional and global health bodies and organisations,” he added.

“The research monitored sedentary lifestyle, higher prevalence of smoking or tobacco use among the school children, mental health and deep socio-cultural disparities,” Dr Fikri pointed out.

“During the survey, students from 26 government schools and 26 private schools were given a questionnaire on their preferences, eating habits, violence they encountered, physical fights and injuries, physical assaults they faced, mental problems, use of tobacco, alcohol and drugs, and their knowledge about HIV/AIDS,” he elaborated.

The inaugural global schools health survey conducted in 2005 had invited the authority’s attention to the alarming challenges resulting from careless behaviour of the young generation in the UAE.

According to him, the MoH is identifying priorities in developing prevention programmes and directing resources for school health services. “Trends and prevalence of health behaviors and protective factors in different countries will be identified to assess school health programmes.”

Nearly half of the students, at 46.7 per cent, said they received lessons during the school year about the benefits of healthy nutrition. About 15 per cent of the students were found to be obese according to the survey, while 35 per cent of them are overweight.

On the mental health of the students, they survey also revealed that 17.1 per cent felt lonely often during the past twelve months, while 38.4 per cent of them felt grief and loss of hope, almost daily for two consecutive weeks. Only 19.2 per cent of the students had received lessons on how to deal with stress.

Mayada Wahsh, programme director of UNICEF in the Gulf region, said, “The questionnaire was developed by experts in more than 15 countries around the world, in collaboration with the WHO, CDC and other international organisations over the past 15 months.”

“The results will be reviewed to draft advanced strategic and practical steps to save the youth from the fatal diseases caused by negative behaviours,” she added.

“Non-infectious diseases were the leading cause for 60 per cent of deaths in the world every year, and 47 per cent of the burden of diseases globally. There are specific risk factors that cause these rates of mortality,” elaborated Wahsh.

Three years see 52,211 premarital health screenings in UAE

By PMA RASHEED 

22 Feb 2011, The Gulf Today

HUNDREDS of UAE residents who underwent mandatory premarital medical examinations during the last three years were found suffering from various genetic disorders, infectious diseases and other health risks, revealed the health ministry on Monday.
A total of 52,211 screenings were conducted for nine types of infectious and genetic diseases since the law on premarital screening and counselling was made mandatory by the Ministry of Health (MoH) in 2008, a top health official said.

However, the health ministry was reluctant to reveal statistics on the people who are suffering from contagious infections or genetic disorders found during the compulsory medical examinations for the couples.

Dr Muna Al Kawari, director of Central Primary Healthcare Department at the MoH, said that about 14,368 medical screenings were conducted in the initial year 2008 and 19,285 in 2009, while the number of tests decreased to 18,558 last year.

“The medical examinations for the  infectious and genetic diseases are conducted at primary health centres in Dubai, Sharjah, Ajman, Umm Al Quwain, Ras Al Khaimah and Fujairah,” she added.

According to her, the integrated premarital medical examination is aimed at eradicating risks of transmitting such genetic diseases from parents-to-offspring or spreading infectious diseases between partners.

“The infectious and sexually transmitted diseases that come under the screening procedures include HIV/AIDS, Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C and Syphilis and the tests for inherited blood disorders include blood grouping and RH factor, Beta Thalassaemia, Sickle Cell Anaemia and Hermoglobinopathies, as well as German Measles (Rubella) immunity status,” said Dr Al Kawari.

“The premarital testing will prevent about 60 per cent of congenital anomalies and about 100 per cent of common inherited blood disorders like Thalassaemia and Sickle Cell Anaemia, in addition to preventing the spread of sexually transmitted diseases to the partner,” she indicated.

“The tests also reduce mother-to-child transmission of some infectious diseases that might lead to congenital anomalies or mental retardation and in some cases death,” she added.

The UAE citizens have to pay Dhs100 and expatriates Dhs250 to undergo the compulsory premarital screening and counselling and the investigation report is ready within a week.
According to the information provided by the MoH, the report of Arab Centre for Genetic Studies revealed in 2007 that the number of hereditary diseases in the UAE reached to 240 diseases of which 82 diseases result from consanguineous marriages.
“About 50 per cent of the marriages in the country are consanguineous, out of which 26 per cent are first degree marriages. Hereditary blood diseases are the most common among genetic disorders in the UAE community,” it said.

Mothers to receive immunisation alerts in UAE

By PMA RASHEED 

18 Feb 2011, The Gulf Today

The Ministry of Health (MoH) has launched new mechanism to provide real-time information on vaccination schedules online to UAE residents located in any part of the world.

A top MoH official said that new mothers would be alerted by e-mail and SMS services about the due date of immunisation vaccinations for their babies. 

Dr Ebrahim Al Qadi, Central Preventive Medicine Department at the MoH, said, “The patients register with the new online vaccination tracking system and obtain ID numbers, update and view their personal details.”

“The online system will keep tabs on the completed and the future immunisation jabs for the children,” he added.

“The vaccinations are free of charge at government hospitals and clinics. However, the private sector health facilities are permitted to charge fees from patients, based on costs incurred on the procedures,” Dr Al Qadi pointed out.

According to him, the clinics authorised to provide the vaccinations in the public and private sectors will be linked electronically.

“The private healthcare centres will be permitted to offer the compulsory vaccinations only if they meet the ministry’ requirements such as setting up proper storage facilities, implementation of adequate safety guidelines and system for vaccination follow-ups,” noted Dr Al Qadi.

“The online system will cover three vaccination courses under the national immunisation programme. Patients will be able to find out information online about different vaccines, and the level of immunisation they require, he added.

Private medical licensing procedures go online in UAE

By PMA RASHEED 

The Gulf Today, 25 Jan 2011

Goodbye to the long queues and pressures of waiting lengthy hours at the Ministry of Health (MoH) office to apply for the qualifying examinations or license renewal of medical professionals and healthcare establishments!

The licensing procedures for medical professionals and private sector healthcare establishments in the Northern emirates have been modified by the MoH with a unified online access to the licensing and registration services.

The ministry has deployed a smart document solution on evaluation of certificates and medical permits for the applications with a new interface incorporated in the ministry’s web portal, a senior ministry official revealed.

The system has streamlined the process of job application with automated proactive communication wherein documents are stored in a digital format, which allows authorised data verification and comparison. The system also prohibits data change at both software and hardware levels.

Dr Ahmed Al Zarouni, Director of Private Medical Licensing Department at the MoH, said that all new candidates who apply for the qualifying examinations as well as those who want to renew their existing practicing licences can submit their documents online.

“Issuance or renewal of licences or renewal of suspended licences for medical establishments, hospitals and clinics also will be processed through the online interface. Similar procedures are applied for services including change of name or location and expanding the scope of services and type of medical establishment,” he added.

Speaking at the MoH stand at the Arab Health 2011, Dr Al Zarouni noted, “Apart from the previous procedures, submitting all documents manually at the MoH office by the candidates or the companies for evaluation, the documents can be uploaded to the new interface creating a user ID at the MoH website.

“The central licensing administration office will send confirmation acknowledgement to the applicants by email, once the documents have been received. The verification procedures and exam schedules also will be emailed. The candidates can collect their evaluated documents between two weeks to a month from the MoH office,” he elaborated.

“After the administrative office audits, fees collection and review of the documents for any missing information, the applications will be forwarded to the licensing committee for final approval,” he said.

According to Dr Al Zarouni, the smart documentation is an innovative imitative using the latest technology for the highest protection of documents and exchange of information in a faster way with various systems.

“The smart documentation also provides the applicants with a smart chip that has a storage facility to store the information after encryption. By using a special desktop reader or writer device, the applicant can verify the stored information on the certificates,” he added.

“The candidates and companies can ensure information easy and fast on the evaluated certificates and documents for medical permits. The MoH will store the documents in its centralised digital document archiving system in a standard universal format.”

New healthcare facility design standards for capital

By PMA RASHEED

The Gulf Today, 26 Jan 2011

THE healthcare regulator in the capital emirate of Abu Dhabi has set up new requirements to prevent medical errors caused by inappropriate design and construction of healthcare facilities.
The healthcare facility design standards were launched on Tuesday at Arab Health Congress 2011 in Dubai, focusing on specific conditions for construction and design of hospitals, clinics and other health facilities in the emirate.
The new standards are a comprehensive tool that all future healthcare facilities as well as currently refurbished ones need to comply with the norms to obtain or renew their licences, said a senior official at the Health Authority – Abu Dhabi (HAAD).
Adeeb Al Zaabi, the manager of Health Facility Licensing Department at the Haad, said: “The design consultants for healthcare facilities are required to be pre-qualified in accordance with the standards before submitting such projects for licensing applications at the Haad.”
“The new standards provide indepth information and ready-to-use standard components for the briefing and design of healthcare facilities at no cost,” he added.
“As the standards aim at improving medical outcomes and minimising errors caused by inappropriate facility designs, owners and management of healthcare facilities should also have to be familiar with the conditions as they engage consultants and embark on new projects,” elaborated Al Zaabi.
According to him, it’s a step towards improving the knowledge base for the health care industry.
“Administrative provisions of the new requirements outline the licensing process for healthcare facilities and the prequalification process for design consultants. The clauses also specify on architectural planning, ergonomics, occupational health and safety, infection control and prevention. The building construction also should be environment-friendly to control temperature and humidity,” he elaborated.
“The facilities will be inspected after evaluating the applications by the healthcare facility licensing officials,” said Al Zaabi.
Aladin Niazmand, the global director of TAHPI, Health Facility Planning Specialist, said that the requirements have been drafted and match with the health facilities that reflect current health care functions and procedures in a safe and appropriate environment.

“Apart from the typical proscriptive building regulation, the standards provide knowledge in the specialised area of healthcare briefing, design and construction. It educates and guides, provides terminology and tools, offers ready-made standard components, encourages further innovation and it is locally aware and regionally sensitive,” he added.

Newborns in UAE to be screened for 16 types of diseases

By PMA RASHEED 

14 Jan 2011, The Gulf Today

Newborn babies in the UAE will hereafter be screened for 16 types of genetic disorders, according to Ministry of Health (MoH) stipulations that came into effect on Thursday.

The screening was limited to five diseases earlier. A ministry official revealed that the national newborn screening programme will include 30 checkups from the next year onwards.

The national newborn screening programme, aimed at protecting children from genetic diseases, is part of the department’s strategy since 1995, as the early screening and treatment can save the lives of newborn babies and decrease the mortality rates.

Dr Hajar Al Hosani, Director of Maternity and Childhood Central Administration at the MoH, said that an advanced technology, named TMS system, has been introduced in the ministry’s screening programmes.

“The system discovers most defects related to amino acids, fatty and organic acids causing disabilities or mortalities of the newborns, if not detected at the early stages and treated properly,” she added.

Al Hosani revealed that that the national newborn screening programme conducted checkups for 670,000 newborn babies between 2005 and 2010. The programme has so far covered about 98 per cent of the newborn babies in all the ministry’s hospitals.

“During this period, about 340 cases of thyroid gland deficiencies have been discovered in newborn babies. About 223 Mangolian anemia and 32 congenital disorders were found in 2010, as the actual participation of the infants reached at 95 per cent in the year,” she elaborated.

“The newborn baby screening programme, since 1995, managed to protect 645 children from dangerous genetic diseases that may cause mental retardation and death,” she said.

According to Al Hosani, the GCC initial statistics showed that metabolic diseases occur at a rate of one baby per 1,000 births and can be discovered by the TMS system.

“The disorder, transmitted from parents to their children, causes various disabilities and death at a rate of three per cent. Even some healthy children may carry the disease like their parents. Such transmission is called recessive hereditary condition that inherited genes from both parents,” she said.

“Possible recurrence of the disease may occur with 25 per cent during the mother’s pregnancy while possible non-re infection is 75 per cent,” she added.

She advised parents to make pre-marital check-up to certify that they are free from the disease and ensure their children might not be affected with it. The parents should make these checkups for their newborn babies regularly.

“Samples are taken from the newborn, after 48 hours of birth, inside the maternity centre of each medical district. All tests are taken through a very small drop of blood via baby’s heel pick leaving the blood to dry in a special place. The test is simple and not harmful to children,” explained Al Hosani.

“International quality standards are implemented in the programme under the supervision of the NEQAS programme, which is applied in Birmingham, UK since 1998. The World Health Organisation also has approved the programme,” she noted. 

Unified drug registration law for GCC

By PMA RASHEED

The Gulf Today, 27 Oct 2010

A total of 48 medicines have been denied registration in the Middle East, as different health authorities in the region revised regulations and specifications for circulating pharmaceutical products.

The GCC central committee for pharmaceutical registration will implement a unified procedure of recording medicines in the region, with a set of drug registration bylaws for biological equivalence for the member countries, said a senior official at the UAE Ministry of Health (MoH).

Heading the 50th meeting of the regional body, Dr Amin Al Amiri, the executive director for Medical Practices and Licences at the MoH, said that the final draft of the new regulations have been prepared, focusing on co-operation between the GCC countries to ensure quality of the drugs.

“The unified standardising procedures will be a platform for the Gulf countries to exchange information on drugs and similar medicinal products,” he added.

“The regulations will control the movement of medicines across all the ports of the GCC, with an early pharma detection system and establishment of a common database accessible to the health sector employees,” pointed out Dr Amiri.

“The GCC committee focuses on pharmaceutical vigilance to quickly inform the member countries in the events of detecting violations medicinal products or complications related to negative side-effects of any drug,” he elaborated.

According to him, the efforts to ensure safety of the medicines supplied in the region have to be doubled through the national pharmaceutical vigilance committee. The safety food items, medical equipments and cosmetics also has to be monitored with stringent measures.

Dr Amiri, revealed, “The central GCC committee revised registration of 17 new medicinal products and completed procedures for 17 other medicines. The registration processes of 21 new pharmaceutical establishments and re-registration of some companies have also been analysed, in addition to reviewing functions of eight firms.”

“The 48 products, which were rejected registration by the GCC committee, were found not complying with the rules and conditions,” he added.

Dubai simplifies procedures for medical fitness tests

By PMA RASHEED

17 Oct 2010, The Gulf Today

The documentation for medical fitness tests to issue or renew employment and residency visas of expatriates in Dubai has been made easier, as the health regulatory body revamped its online interface.

The new website of the Dubai Health Authority’s (DHA) has an enhanced online patient record system, through which the patients can easily access to their medical records, according to a DHA spokesperson.

Licensing procedures for medical professionals and health facilities also have been made simpler through the brand-new web portal www.dha.gov.ae, which was unveiled on Sunday at GITEX 2010.

Qadhi Saeed Al Murooshid, Director General of the DHA, said that the enhanced medical fitness interface for the expatriates will enable them to get the service through simplified procedures.

“The system will automatically propose packages for the applicants, based upon their job description, if they simply enter healthcare number and occupation in the specified space on the portal,” he added.

According to him, the system can also provide package options depending on the urgency level, enabling the users avail details in lesser time.

“Once the requisite package has been selected,” Al Murooshid pointed out, “payment can be made online and the visa applicant can choose the nearest health centre for conducting the tests, the results of which will be sent online to the Dubai Naturalisation and Immigration Department (DNRD).”

According to the DHA chief, the comprehensive information and e-services showcased online will cater to the specific needs of different categories including patients, students, researchers, employees, professionals and investors.

“It will be a comprehensive platform for all e-government health requirements, ensuring tailored information. The search options for physicians or health and pharmaceutical establishments in private and public sectors will help the residents seek preferred services,” indicated Al Murooshid.

Mubaraka Ibrahim, Director of IT Section at the DHA, said that the enhanced online patient medical record system will help the patients to use the authority’s health facilities to book and reschedule their appointments.

“The patients also can check their medical results, access to medical reports and medication online and transfer their medical files from one DHA health centre to another,” she added.

“The procedures for renewal and issuance of license for medical professionals and healthcare facilities have also been eased through the website’s dedicated regulation sub-link, through which the applicants can obtain specific information they require and apply online,” elaborated Ibrahim.

“The main portal has been designed with 12 new sub-sites for the government hospitals, medical education and health regulation departments, and centres for blood research, donation, Thalassemia, Genetics, medical fitness and health services.

“The integrated website also features Google mapping of the DHA facilities, alerts and notifications for customers and Really Simple Syndication (RSS) option,” she concluded.

Unified blood transfusion policy soon

By PMA RASHEED

22 Sept 2010, The Gulf Today

THE UAE Ministry of Health (MoH) is currently planning to implement a unified policy for blood transfusion and donation services in the country’s healthcare sector.

The rules and regulations of the proposed policy with regard to blood transfusion will be implemented across the country, once it’s developed in tandem with guidelines put forth by international healthcare monitoring organisations, said a senior health official.

Dr Amin Al Amiri, executive director for medical practices and licences at the MoH, said that the national higher committee for blood donation is studying the feasibility of applying the updated regulations to provide hospitals and healthcare facilities with sufficient blood stock as per their requirements.

“Comprehensive conditions will be drafted in the unified policy on acceptance and refusal of the blood donation, informing the donors on the positive results and application procedures for the donation,” he added.

“Preventive medicine centres will also keep an electronic system for notification of the blood donors, who carry infectious diseases. There will also be a national criterion for standardisation of blood donation mechanism,” elaborated Dr Amiri.

“The labourers’ blood examinations are being conducted, ensuring the highest level of safety measures to avoid negative impacts due to the cultural differences and traditions among the labourers,” he said.

According to him, the national higher committee will conduct various awareness programmes and training workshops in and outside the UAE on safe blood transfusion practices, and different blood-borne diseases.

“The UAE nationals are on top of the blood donors list in the country, comprising donors from 73 nationalities for more than 17 years. The number of the donors has increased at 13 per cent this year,” pointed out Dr Amiri.

He said that the UAE will be hosting a global convention on safe injection practices from Nov.9 to 11.

“The WHO’s eleventh global network for injection safety programme will take significant steps towards preventing lethal diseases transmitted through contaminated syringes in developed countries,” he said.

“Health experts from 120 countries will participate in the WHO conference that will announce plans to provide financial support given to the region’s countries to use single syringes,” he added.

“The World Health Organiasation (WHO) has selected the blood transfusion services centre in Sharjah as the regional reference centre in the Middle East,” noted Dr Amiri.

Plans to enhance med-tourism

BY PMA RASHEED

29 Sept 2010, The Gulf Today

 

The Dubai Health Authority (DHA) has announced strategies to further boost its medical tourism activities in the Emirate slated for 2011.

As part of the strategies, the DHA will host the regional Medical Tourism Association (MTA) conference in Dubai in February 2011, with the participation of private and public healthcare establishments to showcase Dubai’s healthcare capabilities, said the chief of the Authority.

Qadhi Saeed Al Murooshid, Director General of the DHA, said the DHA recently signed a MoU with the MTA at the World Medical Tourism and Global Health Congress, which took place in Los Angeles from Sept.22 to 24, to host the summit for the first time in the Middle East region.

“Dubai is already known to be one of the top tourism destinations in the world and the local authority is further building its healthcare capabilities, policies and regulations to ensure that Dubai enjoys the same position as a healthcare destination,” he added.

“At the conference, the DHA and the private sector will represent their centres in the fields of diabetes management, rehabilitation facilities, surgery, and other specialities. The conference will be a platform representing Dubai’s healthcare tourism strengths to the global medial tourism sector,” elaborated Al Murooshid.

According to him, Dubai has witnessed a phenomenal growth in the healthcare sector, following the Dubai Strategic Plan 2015 to position the Emirate at high rank on the global medical tourism map.

He urged the private sector to energise the medical tourism scenario by developing state-of-the-art healthcare facilitates in the city.

“The patient base over the years indicated an increase in the number of patients from the Gulf region landing in Dubai for treatment,” pointed out Al Murooshid.

Laila Al Jassmi, CEO of the Health Policy and Strategy Sector at the DHA, said, “Dubai’s medical tourism sector generates over 30 billion dollars worth of revenue annually. Now, the DHA is strengthening its policies and regulations to further develop its healthcare capabilities focusing on medical tourism.”

“The enhancement targets international players looking for lucrative healthcare opportunities,” she added.

Meanwhile, a September-end survey carried out by a healthcare travel consultant in Dubai had revealed that the UAE was at eleventh position among the countries that had made a mark in medical tourism.

UAE recalls diet pill Siburtamine

BY PMA RASHEED

16 Oct 2010, The Gulf Today

All generic versions of controversial Sibutramine slimming pills have been ordered off the shelves from the UAE markets on Friday.

The Ministry of Health (MoH) has issued a circular to health facilities and pharmaceutical establishments to cease dispensing the Sibutramine-based drugs, which is mostly used as an easy weight loss solution.

The medicines are manufactured and marketed by Abbott Laboratories, under brand names such as Reductil, Meridia and Sibutrex.

The MoH imposed the ban after global drug control organisations issued guidelines to stop consumption of the Sibutramine, as the benefit of the substance is smaller than its health risks.

Studies revealed the medicine had multiplied cardiovascular risks and strokes in numerous users, according to a senior MoH official.

The US Drug and Food Administration (FDA) enforced a ban on such drugs, and the European Medicines Agency (EMA) issued guidance recently to stop its use.

The orally-administered appetite suppressant for the treatment of obesity had also been barred from Canada, New Zealand, Taiwan, Hong Kong, the EU, Australia, Korea and Kuwait.

Dr Amin Al Amiri, Executive Director for Medical Practices and Licenses at the MoH, said, “The existing stocks of the respective products have been recalled, as recommended by the FDA and the EMA, and requested by its manufacturer and agent in the UAE.”

“Registration, import or export of all products that contain Sibutramine substance have also been suspended, soon after the announcement of the clinical results,” he added.

“All medical practitioners have been instructed to follow the cases of the users and provide them with the required treatment by subscribing to new alternatives,” pointed out Dr Amiri.

“Events of Sibutramine’s side-effects also should be reported to the drug control and registration department in the ministry,” he urged.

According to him, all the batches of the respective products will be out of the shelves of the UAE’s hospitals and pharmacies within two weeks from the date of the issuance of the circular.

Meanwhile, the MoH had announced in the beginning of this year that Sibutramine products available in the UAE could be consumed without fear.

This was in light of tougher warnings by the FDA on chances of risks from usage of the drug by cardiac patients.

The decision for the complete withdrawal of all the Sibutramine products in the UAE has been taken after reviewing their effects once again.

The MoH advised patients to stop taking the drugs.

Amzylite ordered off the shelves in UAE

By PMA RASHEED

11 Oct 2010, The Gulf Today

The health authorities in the UAE have cancelled registrations of Amzylite F1.2 500 mg capsules, a drug that manufacturers reportedly claim as a perfect cure for diabetes.

The Ministry of Health (MoH) alerted the public and healthcare professionals to be aware of the lack of credibility of the drug’s publicity literature through online tools.

The MoH issued on Sunday a circular to all healthcare establishments across the country that registration of all the medicinal products by the name of Amzylite had been cancelled.

The circular required doctors to advise their patients to immediately discontinue the medicine, if they use it or report to the ministry in case of any complications due to its usage.

“All the packages of the medicine marketed in the country have been withdrawn, as they were manufactured in a combination that was different from the one registered with the MoH,” read the circular.

Dr Amin Al Amiri, Executive Director for Medical Practices and Licensing at the MoH, said that the Amzylite was being circulated in the country breaching the conditions for pharmaceutical products’ marketing.

“The drug’s online promotions claimed it as being the best treatment for diabetes.

Such statements on its power to heal diabetes perfectly are not approved by the health ministry,” he added.

The London-based drug manufacturer Saccharides Science and Technology claimed on its website that Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes can never be cured by insulin usage, so their scientists had developed the Amylite F1.2 product to correct defects that could exist in a diabetic patient.

“We are well known to the US, UK and UAE’s research institutions and independent health trade, health practitioners and diabetic patients as the sole developer and supplier of the Amzylite capsules for diabetes supplementation and treatment,” read the portal http://www.saccharidestech.com/.

“The company is the first in the world to discover, invent, and use saliva analysis to early detect, diagnosis, prognosis and treat Type 1, and Type 2 diabetes mellitus,” said the website.

The company also stated as working within the framework of the current US, EU and the UAE legislations and regulations whilst practicing the highest ethical standards.

Dr Amiri pointed out, “The misguiding Web promotion is not under the control of the health advertising department of the MoH, which has implemented strict mechanism to prevent circulation of the medicine among diabetes patients.”

He urged the pharmacies and healthcare establishments to report to the department of drug control and registration if they have stocks of the medicine.

“The MoH circular,” noted Dr Amiri, “required the doctors to ensure that their patients are not consuming the Amzylite drug for the diabetes.”

He also warned the public not to be cheated by false claim messages or online promotions published without the knowledge of the health authorities in the country.

Health ministry removes 2 errant doctors

By PMA RASHEED

The Gulf Today, 5 Oct 2010

The medical licensing committee of the Ministry of Health (MoH) has removed two doctors from their practice on Monday for professional malpractices.

Licenses of the unethical practitioners have been withdrawn, in addition to blacklisting of their names, according to a senior official.

Dr Amin Al Amiri, Executive Director for Medical Practices and Licenses at the MoH, told The Gulf Today that one of the sacked doctors was caught for impersonating in front of patients using the name and stamp of his colleague, who was out of the country on vacation.

“The other was found forging medical reports of the patients. The patients have the right to approach the court and sue the doctors or hospitals in the event of negligence and violations,” he added.

“Several other doctors who breached the MoH regulations have also been temporarily suspended from practice until their appearance before the medical licensing committee to analyse their violations,” said the acting chairman of the committee.

“The higher committee also called on directors of the medical centres to investigate the irregularities and violations committed by the doctors employed at their establishments,” said Dr Amiri.

According to him, stringent action will be initiated against the erring medical professionals in the country.

“The medical licensing committee members meet regularly to monitor the complaints against the breaching practitioners and review the regulations and medical practices pertaining to the private sector,” he noted.

Dr Amiri highlighted that about seven medical centres and hospitals in the private sector have received international accreditations for achieving excellence and providing quality healthcare services to patients across the country.

He hailed the vital role of the private medical sector in the country in providing advanced healthcare services to the patients.

“A total of 1,058 hospitals and medical centres are being operated in the private sector in the UAE. The ministry also supervises about 4,350 doctors, 1,005 pharmacies, 129 medical stores, nine pharmaceutical factories and nine private research offices,” elaborated Dr Amiri.