Health minister comes under fire from FNC members

FNC members voice concerns over many aspects of the country’s health system.

Abdul Rahman Al Owais, Minister of Health, was faced with questions on many concerns FNC members had over the health system at Tuesday’s session. Silvia Razgova / The National

ABU DHABI // The Minister of Health should visit hospitals in person to witness their real situations, FNC members urged on Tuesday as they grilled him on various aspects of the system.

Members raised concerns on overpriced medicines, lack of medical specialists and insufficient services for psychiatry patients and senior citizens.

Salem Al Shehhi, a member from Ras Al Khaimah told Abdul Rahman Al Owais that staff in some medical centres “plead that the minister visits them alone, without any entourage, because some issues don’t reach you”.

Dr Nedal Al Tenaiji, also from RAK, was vocal in expressing her concern over hospitals in “far away areas”, especially the Northern Emirates.

Dr Al Tenaiji stressed that the minister should visit all of the hospitals to see their shortcomings.

Dubai member Afra Al Basti said that medication was overpriced when compared to other countries. She gave the example of medicine for migraine, which is sold in Turkey for 5 liras, or Dh7.5, but Dh180 in the UAE.

Ms Al Basti said the number of pharmacies should be reduced.

“You opened 10 pharmacies in one street. Why? When we travel we carry suitcases of medicine with us because we cannot afford them here. One who has a chronic disease wastes his salary on medications.”

Mr Al Owais said that Turkey had the licence to produce medicine locally so it was much cheaper there.

Ms Al Basti also asked the minister if any ambulance paramedics were trained to transfer psychiatry patients to hospitals. An FNC health committee report found that the ministry had no such ambulances.

“Some cases are controllable but others should receive treatment urgently. Where are the cadres for that?” she asked.

Mr Al Owais said ambulances were the responsibility of the Ministry of Interior.

He agreed that there was a lack of psychiatric specialists and said there was only one psychiatrist in the UAE who specialised in children, adding that they were scarce worldwide.

The committee report said there were not enough health centres to accommodate psychiatric patients. There are only 80 beds in Al Amal hospital in Dubai and 25 beds in Ibrahim Obeid Allah Hospital.

“Despite the ministry preparing a draft law for psychiatric health, there has been a delay in issuing the law until now which led to many challenges, so why the delay?” asked Sharjah member Mohammed Al Ketbi.

Mr Al Owais replied: “Yes there has been a delay and at the Health Ministry we are keen on doing it in a proper way.

“It requires an extensive study and we hope it is issued the right way and reaches you, and the law will see light.”

A report by Sheikh Khalifa Medical City showed most children who suffer lack of concentration also have psychological problems, said Abu Dhabi member Saeed Al Remeithi.

And he said that 43 per cent of children who need treatment in psychiatric wards across the country are getting it.

Members stressed the urgency of issuing the federal health insurance system, but Mr Al Owais said the ball was in the court of the Ministry of Finance.

The health committee’s report referred to many figures on the growing percentage of obesity and stomach cutting surgeries.

The minister urged members of the council to start initiatives such as marathons to encourage healthy lifestyles.