United Arab Emirates, Dubai, January 18, 2012:  The Dubai Health Authority announced today the introduction of the first comprehensive immunization services policy for the Emirate of Dubai.

The policy, which is the first and only one on immunization in the UAE, is part of the initiatives of the Dubai Health Strategy Sector and is aimed to improve and strengthen the functioning of immunization services for the  entire health sector in the Emirate of Dubai.

The policy which has been developed after extensive study and in-depth research, has been implemented beginning this year and is applicable for all hospitals and health centers that wish to provide immunization services.

His Excellency Qadhi Saeed Al Murooshid, Director-General of the DHA highlighted that the unified immunization policy will assure better access to immunization services in the Emirate of Dubai and that special emphasis has been given to child immunizations. Al Murooshid said: “We would like to ensure that Dubai’s residents enjoy safe and efficient immunization services and the introduction of this policy will help us achieve this by ensuring uniformity across all parameters of immunization services in the Emirate. Immunization is of key importance to protect the community from several life threatening diseases and  this policy will help us benchmark ourselves internationally in terms of immunization services.”

He added the while both the private and the government sector provide good standards of immunization services, introducing a unified policy is a step in the right direction to further enhance the health services provided in the Emirate.

He said the introduction of this policy will facilitate coordination between different health sectors within the Emirate to follow a unified policy.

Laila Al Jassmi, CEO of Health Policy and Strategy at the DHA mentioned that the policy will significantly benefit the health sector and will ensure that immunization services, especially for children, are streamlined in the Emirate. She said, “The policy stems from the DHA’s wider aim to improve public health services in the Emirate and it is in line with the objectives of the Dubai Health Strategy 2011 to 2013. Prior to introducing this policy, we conducted a detained analysis of the existing situation in terms of immunization services in Dubai, we later analyzed the data and identified existing gaps and accordingly developed a unified policy.  With the implementation of this policy, all hospitals and health clinics in the private and government health sector in the Emirate of Dubai will have to follow the same immunization practices.”

She said the Department of Public Health is working in cooperation with the DHA Health Regulation Department to ensure that every health facility or hospital that administers these vaccines follows a certain set of rules and regulations.

She said, “ To monitor the process of administering vaccines across the private and public health sector in Dubai, the Public Health and Safety Department and the DHA Health regulation department have jointly developed the criteria for provision of vaccination services.  Accordingly private clinics will be licensed as Vaccine Qualified Clinics (VQCs) and their functions will be monitored by the DHA Health Regulation according to the Immunization Guideline.”

She said that this should not be a difficult task as a majority of the healthcare facilities in Dubai are already fulfilling their licensing criteria to provide this service and that by implementing the VQCs system, adults and children who are vaccinated can be sure that they will receive potent and safe vaccines.

Al Jassmi said, “All clinics who wish to function as a VQC will have to adhere to guidelines for various processes such as their set-up, staffing structure, storage criteria for vaccines and medicines, emergency supplies. In addition, VQC’s will have to ensure that suppliers of vaccines are licensed and follow the required mandated transportation and cold chain storage practices. Clinics will also have to maintain accurate recording of immunization schedules, they will have to maintain complete record of adverse reactions and reporting system. All clinics and hospitals will have to maintain records of vaccination cards including all EPI recommended vaccines. The clinic will also have to ensure that the clinic is run by well trained as per DHA requirements and the DHA health public health department will also support clinics by organising training courses from time-to-time.”

She said to ensure that clinics are following these requirements; the DHA Health Regulation Department will carry out regular inspections.

Dr Ramadan Ibrahim, Director of Health Regulation at the DHA said, “As per the unified policy, firstly, for any clinic or hospital to provide vaccination services in the Emirate, they will first have to quality to be a VQC, once that is established, we will also conduct regular inspections from time-to-time to ensure that the VQC’s are following all mandatory rules and regulations. This policy will help further strengthen the quality of healthcare services provided in the Emirate.”

Dr. Aizeldin Ibrahim, Acting director of Public Health and Safety, Health Policy and Strategy Sector at the DHA added that the implementation of the unified policy for immunizations was implemented after in-depth study and research in the field. He said, “From 2009, the department conducted a study to assess the immunization services in Dubai in terms of quality, safety, accessibility and identified opportunities for improvement and we realized that there is need to reform the existing immunization services and to implement a uniform immunization policy to regulate the provision of vaccination services.”

Dr Ibrahim said that the study highlighted that in Dubai, 28% of the clinics studied, were not following the national immunization schedule, 41% have no reminder system and 48% of the clinics lacked a system to trace defaulters. Sixty four per cent of private healthcare facilities were not reporting adverse events. On the other hand; periodic reporting to the concerned authorities (Ministry of Health and DHA) was found to be inadequate in 48% of the private facilities.

Eighty three per cent demonstrated high quality immunization registry system and 88 % of the private clinics followed specific policy to maintain cold chain and there was high compliance with regard to regular monitoring of vaccine-storage temperature.

Dr Ibrahim said that the findings of the study highlighted the need to implement a unified policy which will ensure standardized procedures and coordinated efforts are followed by both private and public healthcare facilities in Dubai. The policy aims to improve immunization services and to provide technical guidance to healthcare providers to ensure they follow best practices in terms of administering and storing vaccines.

He highlighted that the policy will enforce the national immunization program approved by the Ministry of Health and healthcare facilities providing childhood immunization services will have to follow this schedule. “ Every country develops a national immunization schedule keeping in mind the disease burden of the country and the UAE is no different. The UAE national immunization schedule was developed to suit the disease burden in UAE, however, is parents wish to give their children additional vaccines which are not in the schedule, they may choose to do so.”

Dr Hisham Al Khatib, Senior Public Health Specialist, Public Health and Safety Department, Health Policy and Strategy Sector at the DHA explained that, applying this policy will ensure the implementation of a unified and improved recording and reporting system across all healthcare facilities in the Emirate and it will ensure healthcare facilities devise an appropriate way of tracing children who do not show up for their immunizations on the appointed days (tracing defaulters). He added that the vaccination records are based on the UAE National Immunization Schedule. Therefore, this policy will help the DHA gauge the actual coverage of immunization services in Dubai.

Dr Lubna Al Shaali, Public Health Specialist, Health Policy and Strategy Sector at the DHA mentioned that the department has formulated a comprehensive immunization guideline, which is the first of its kind in the country, with the support of healthcare stakeholders. The guideline has is based on regional and international best practices and is endorsed by all the concerned healthcare stakeholders.

Many of the 300 exhibitors from 35 countries entering the region’s food market for the first time

Abu Dhabi: Final preparations are underway for the debut of SIAL Middle East, the regional edition of the world’s largest food trade event set to run from November 22 to 24, 2010 at ADNEC, the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre. The announcement was made today at a special press conference held at ADNEC. Prominent government and industry officials were on hand to share their thoughts on the importance of the upcoming event to the region’s food businesses and policies.

“The Middle East region’s food industry is valued at around USD 35 billion, of which GCC countries account for nearly USD 12 billion,” said Rashed Al Shariqi, Director General of Abu Dhabi Food Control Authority. “In an endeavor to conserve economic resources and further diversify the economy, we need to assess the expansion possibilities of the food industry and develop export potential across the region.”

“SIAL Middle East provides a comprehensive platform where food professionals, companies and authorities can come together and set appropriate directions for the region’s burgeoning food sector and familiarize with diverse global experiences in the food industry,” Al Shariqi said.

“From the vantage point of Abu Dhabi, global firms in the food industry will approach around 2 billion consumers in the Middle East, North Africa and South Asia,” Al Shariqi added.

Under the patronage of H.H. Sheikh Mansour Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister of the UAE, Minister of Presidential Affairs and the Chairman of Abu Dhabi Food Control Authority, the three-day long event is organised by Turret Media in collaboration with Comexposium.

Prominent figures who attended today’s conference included H.E. Ali Saeed Bin Harmal Al Dhaheri, Managing Director, ADNEC; Richard Hease, Chairman, Turret Media;  Gokhan Adanali, Commercial Counselor, Turkish Embassy in Abu Dhabi; Mohamed Jalal Al Reyaysa, Director of Communications and Community Services, ADFCA; and Eric Santier, Managing Director, Sopexa.

Commenting on hosting the event at its premises, H.E. Ali Saeed Bin Harmal Al Dhaheri, Managing Director of ADNEC, said, “SIAL Middle East will establish a benchmark for food trade shows - both existing and planned - throughout the region. The event will highlight the strengths of our venue and is set to underline Abu Dhabi’s emergence as a preferred global destination for special events.”

Buyers from the region will be able to source from more than 1,000 brands showcased by 300 exhibitors from 35 countries.

Richard Hease, Chairman of Turret Media – organizer of the event, said, “The major appeal of this grand event is that 80 per cent of exhibitors belong to the international food industry, bringing in brand new products and services to the region. SIAL Middle East will deliver business benefits to both exhibitors and trade visitors as they get a unique opportunity to source and introduce food products of the global food industry.”

Highlighting the specialized lineup of featured events that run alongside the exhibition such as the Purchasers Club and the UNIDO Investment Meetings, Richard Hease affirmed that SIAL Middle East will trigger more investments in food industry, thus giving the UAE’s USD 6.78 billion food industry a substantial boost.
 
“We are bringing in hundreds of top food, beverage and equipment buyers to relevant exhibitors to help facilitate business through a series of pre-arranged one-to-one meetings under the Purchaser’s Club; and the UNIDO Investment Meetings will host companies interested in establishing food manufacturing operations in the Middle East,” Hease added.

For the first time in the global food industry, SIAL Middle East will bring together 30 date manufacturing companies and host date trade buyers at the show.

The show will also feature 9 national pavilions from Argentina, China, France, Hong Kong, Iran, Lebanon, Thailand, Turkey, and the United States.

Gokhan Adanali, Commercial Counselor, Turkish Embassy noted the complementary relationship between Turkey’s food and agriculture sectors and the UAE’s food security plan. Turkey will have the largest pavilion during the show, with a total of 27 Turkish companies, all participating for the first time in the region.

Eric Santier, Managing Director of Sopexa (organizer of the French pavilion) agreed on the need to further strengthen trade ties in the region.

SIAL Middle East is also set to break new grounds with the first-of-its kind Middle East Food Summit held in association with ADFCA.  This summit will include a high-level Ministerial Conference exploring the development of an integrated food policy for the Gulf by seeking common standards for food risk assessment and safety, nutrition, emergency response, and effective communication procedures for imminent risk.

The UAE Ministry of Environment will host agriculture, finance, environment and trade ministers from the region to join them in a keynote session.

On the sidelines of the Ministerial Conference, Rashed Al Shariqi said, “In the Arab world, food crises lurch behind us menacingly as a result of the increase in populations and the decline in resources. The population of the Arab world is expected to reach 480 million by the year 2030. It is a huge responsibility to guarantee safe, secure and nutritious food for such large numbers of people.”

“Any development strategy for food security in any country has to aim at developing sustainable agriculture and food industries aligned to it. We hope the Ministerial Conference will result in the formulation of a vision for permanent joint work towards food security and safety for the fraternal countries of the region,” Al Shariqi added.

A Retail Forum organized in association with the Abu Dhabi Chamber of Commerce and Industry will be attended by key industry experts from the region. It will focus on the latest issues, ideas, trends and opportunities in the Middle Eastern food retail sector.

The show will also host the region’s first-ever La Cuisine Du SIAL cooking competition between professional chefs.

ABU DHABI — The National Health Insurance Company Daman announced that it will cover medical expenses due to work-related injuries and/or illnesses for all members enrolled in the new and renewed policies.

The move, effective March 22, followed a recent decision by the Health Authority-Abu Dhabi (HAAD) to include medical treatment for work-related injuries on the coverage for basic healthcare services.

“These injuries include those that have been sustained by an employee at his/her place of work or due to his/her work, and will not result in an increase in the premiums of the policies,” said a statement released by the company.

Asked if heat stroke or other heat-related illnesses are included in the revised policy, Dr Michael Bitzer, CEO of Daman on Sunday confirmed its coverage but only as a result of working outdoors.

“Protective measures by employers are of utmost importance in preventing work-related injuries from occurring. However, in the incident where a worker may suffer from a heat stroke as a result of working in the sun, Daman will cover the medical cost of treatment as a work-related injury,” he told Khaleej Times.

Previously, medical treatment for such conditions fell under Daman’s general exclusions list, even on the enhanced plan, in accordance with HAAD’s Health Insurance Scheme.

The Ministry of Labour’s workmen’s compensation ordinance is designed to protect the employer against their liabilities to employees in respect to injuries suffered by them in the course of employment. —

Dileep Nair shares exclusive insights about Singapore’s successful fiscal, transport, public housing, healthcare and education policies

Mr. Dileep Nair, the Republic of Singapore's Consul-General in Dubai.

Mohammed Bin Rashid Center for Leadership Development (MBRCLD) has recently concluded a series of forums wherein Dileep Nair, the Republic of Singapore’s Consul-General in Dubai, Read the full story

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