Mental health is a key topic for the FNC

ABU DHABI // The provision of services for senior citizens, psychiatry patients and autistic children was a key issue in recommendations for the Cabinet from the Federal National Council.

Following discussions with health officials and a debate with the minister of health last February, FNC members passed 15 recommendations at the end of their session on Tuesday.

Health officials had voiced concerns about the absence of a nationwide plan to provide geriatric care, and a lack of doctors, nurses and facilities to accommodate this growing segment of society.

The FNC requested specialised units be built in hospitals to serve elderly patients, that will “provide a pleasant life for them”.

FNC speaker Dr Amal Al Qubaisi focused on a recommendation for services to children with autism, Down syndrome and sclerosis. “We should phrase it in a way they [health officials] cannot escape from [complying],” she said.

The FNC also repeated its request to speed up the creation of a psychiatric health law “to preserve the rights of patients and those who work in the field”.

Members recommended that psychiatric services should be provided evenly to the UAE population, “and a psychiatric clinic should be available in every hospital”.

A plan should be set in motion to attract a workforce with psychiatric health skills, while more rehabilitation centres should be created to address the problems of substance abuse and dependency.

Members also called for well-being skills to be taught in schools and the launching of colleges to teach in-demand medical skills, such as ambulance, epidemic and public health technician skills and psychiatric and social nursing.