DUBAI // A national cancer registry, a system to monitor hospital waiting times and an action plan to streamline the standards of doctors and health professionals are among a dozen national initiatives in the pipeline to improve the UAE’s health sector, according to the Ministry of Health.
The health body also wants to implement a comprehensive national programme to ensure regular health check-ups for every Emirati. It also wants to establish a structure for employees working in the government medical sector to improve their professional skills and attract more to the medical field and set up unified national standards for all UAE hospitals.
“Such decisions not only enrich the health sector but are a vital element for the development and progress of this sector,” said Dr Aisha Al Mutawa, director of strategy and institutional excellence at the MoH.
The plans are part of the Ministry’s 2014-2016 plan, in line with the UAE Vision 2021, she said.
“The ministry’s strategy aims for establishing an ambitious vision that accommodates the demands and vision of the UAE federal government for the year 2021.”
Other plans in the pipeline include a mobile healthcare programme to help residents living in remote areas, a national database for all medical facilities to ease the transfer of patients between public and private hospitals, a new medical research and development centre and a medical training centre.
The MoH also wants to enhance the nursing profession and establish a programme to attract Emiratis in the field.
Other initiatives include establishing a nationwide awareness programme to highlight the importance of a healthy lifestyle to protect the community from obesity-related diseases. This will include determining the size of soft drinks, imposing restrictions on commercials for unhealthy foods and displaying calorie counts on food tags.
This will coincide with setting streamlined standards for health and nutrition in public and private schools, said Dr Al Mutawa.
“The Ministry of Health has established a future plan to adopt health strategies and policies that are closer to the new realities and coincide with the World Health Organisation (WHO) strategies to provide comprehensive health services to improve the development of the country and the nation.”
The strategy is in line with the vision of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, she said.
“It also targets the development of the health sector in the UAE to sustain health for a UAE community enjoying comprehensive and long-lasting healthcare life.
“The Ministry of Health mission seeks to enhance the health of individuals and society through the provision of comprehensive and excellent health services in a healthy and sustainable environment through local and international effective policies, legislations, programmes and partnerships.”
Dr Al Mutawa said the health sector faced several challenges, including the rapidly growing population and the high rates of chronic ailments including diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, asthma, cancer and mental health diseases that the Ministry of Health wants to address.
jbell@thenational.ae
The specs: Aston Martin DB11 V8 vs Ferrari GTC4Lusso T
Price, base: Dh840,000; Dh120,000
Engine: 4.0L V8 twin-turbo; 3.9L V8 turbo
Transmission: Eight-speed automatic; seven-speed automatic
Power: 509hp @ 6,000rpm; 601hp @ 7,500rpm
Torque: 695Nm @ 2,000rpm; 760Nm @ 3,000rpm
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Director: Zack Snyder
Stars: Dave Bautista, Ella Purnell, Omari Hardwick, Ana de la Reguera
Three stars
Past winners of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix
2016 Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes-GP)
2015 Nico Rosberg (Mercedes-GP)
2014 Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes-GP)
2013 Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull Racing)
2012 Kimi Raikkonen (Lotus)
2011 Lewis Hamilton (McLaren)
2010 Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull Racing)
2009 Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull Racing)
In numbers: PKK’s money network in Europe
Germany: PKK collectors typically bring in $18 million in cash a year – amount has trebled since 2010
Revolutionary tax: Investigators say about $2 million a year raised from ‘tax collection’ around Marseille
Extortion: Gunman convicted in 2023 of demanding $10,000 from Kurdish businessman in Stockholm
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Venue Insportz, Dubai, September 16-23
UAE squad Saqib Nazir (captain), Aaqib Malik, Fahad Al Hashmi, Isuru Umesh, Nadir Hussain, Sachin Talwar, Nashwan Nasir, Prashath Kumara, Ramveer Rai, Sameer Nayyak, Umar Shah, Vikrant Shetty
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Milestones on the road to union
1970
October 26: Bahrain withdraws from a proposal to create a federation of nine with the seven Trucial States and Qatar.
December: Ahmed Al Suwaidi visits New York to discuss potential UN membership.
1971
March 1: Alex Douglas Hume, Conservative foreign secretary confirms that Britain will leave the Gulf and “strongly supports” the creation of a Union of Arab Emirates.
July 12: Historic meeting at which Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid make a binding agreement to create what will become the UAE.
July 18: It is announced that the UAE will be formed from six emirates, with a proposed constitution signed. RAK is not yet part of the agreement.
August 6: The fifth anniversary of Sheikh Zayed becoming Ruler of Abu Dhabi, with official celebrations deferred until later in the year.
August 15: Bahrain becomes independent.
September 3: Qatar becomes independent.
November 23-25: Meeting with Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid and senior British officials to fix December 2 as date of creation of the UAE.
November 29: At 5.30pm Iranian forces seize the Greater and Lesser Tunbs by force.
November 30: Despite a power sharing agreement, Tehran takes full control of Abu Musa.
November 31: UK officials visit all six participating Emirates to formally end the Trucial States treaties
December 2: 11am, Dubai. New Supreme Council formally elects Sheikh Zayed as President. Treaty of Friendship signed with the UK. 11.30am. Flag raising ceremony at Union House and Al Manhal Palace in Abu Dhabi witnessed by Sheikh Khalifa, then Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi.
December 6: Arab League formally admits the UAE. The first British Ambassador presents his credentials to Sheikh Zayed.
December 9: UAE joins the United Nations.
THE BIO
Favourite place to go to in the UAE: The desert sand dunes, just after some rain
Who inspires you: Anybody with new and smart ideas, challenging questions, an open mind and a positive attitude
Where would you like to retire: Most probably in my home country, Hungary, but with frequent returns to the UAE
Favorite book: A book by Transilvanian author, Albert Wass, entitled ‘Sword and Reap’ (Kard es Kasza) - not really known internationally
Favourite subjects in school: Mathematics and science
Avatar%20(2009)
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13.6km of steel used in the structure that makes it equal in length to 16 Burj Khalifas
550 tonnes of moulded steel were raised last year to cap the dome
724,000 cubic metres is the space it encloses
Stands taller than the leaning tower of Pisa
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The size of 16 tennis courts and weighs as much as 500 elephants
Al Wasl means connection in Arabic
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