New body to handle hospital funding

SHARJAH // Hospitals wanting to improve their facilities no longer have to apply directly to the Sharjah Government. Instead, their requests will be considered by Masanada, a new six-member committee chaired by Sheikha Jamila bint Mohammed Al Qassimi. Dr Saqr al Mualla, the deputy director of the committee and head of dermatology at Al Qassimi Hospital, said it would offer financial, political and moral support to all health-related institutions in the emirate.

"In our first meeting with health administrators, we urged them to identify their necessary requirements and hand on the list to the committee," he said. While not every application could expect approval, Dr Saqr said the principal needs of hospitals and clinics would be met. Meanwhile, the Sharjah Department of Islamic Endowments and the Awqaf health fund are to provide free medication to low-income residents in the emirate in the lead-up to Ramadan.

Jamal al Tunaiji, the head of Awqaf, told the Sharjah consultative council that the project was being undertaken in co-operation with the Ministry of Health and the Sharjah Government. Omar Banurah, a Yemeni who has a chronic condition, said: "I spend almost half of my salary on medication every month. This will be a big relief for me." [e-mail]