H.E. Dr. Hanif Hassan, UAE Minister of Health, visited Rashid Center for Diabetes and Obesity in Ajman in preparation of its official opening next May. He was accompanied by Dr. Mahmood Fikri, Executive Director for Health Policies, Hamad Taryam Al Shamsi, Director of Ajman Medical Zone, Dr. Enas Kamel Loazi, Director of the Center and other officials.

Minister of Health lauded the efforts of the team members who are working on the final procedures for opening the center which will provide treatment and care for diabetes and obesity patients through following the latest therapeutic and surgical methods.

Then, he called all the center’s team members to follow the latest steps before the full operation of the center for the purpose of making such centers an actual addition to the health care sector in the UAE.

Further, Dr. Mahmood Fikri, Executive Director for Health Policies, Chairman of the Higher National Committee for Fighting Diabetes, explained that the ministry aims for fighting and controlling the spread of diabetes and eliminating its dangers and complications. He pointed out that Rashid Center for Diabetes Treatment and Research has been constructed and equipped to assist diabetes patients not only through direct treatment but also by continuous medical education and obesity surgical interventions.

“The center will be supported to reflect the educational and clinical experiences of the ministry’s doctors and nurses. The Ministry of Health aims for offering various educational programs to raise the quality of services provided to the patients in the ministry’s hospitals and primary health centers. It also educated patients through specialized programs with the participation of specialized nutrition nurses, world-class diabetes specialists and psychologists, who will be able to apply the modern methods of treatment, cover all the needs of patients and educate them an integrated medical team,” he aaded.

He concluded that the ministry is particularly interested in fighting diabetes confirming that Rashid Center will work to improve the care provided to diabetes and obesity patients leading to excellence in all areas of patient care and treatment of their complications, patients’ health education, development of continuous medical learning inside and outside the center through the Swedish administration.

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A law on health insurance for citizens will be passed during the current parliamentary term and the government has concluded a three-year study of the bill, officials said. “It’s high time it was approved to serve citizens and reduce the burden shouldered by the health sector in general,” stressed officials. Furthermore, officials emphasized that the current private sector’s infrastructure comprising various specialized private hospitals and clinics were fully capable of providing adequate health services to both citizens and expatriates, reported Al-Rai. “Citizens have paid around KD 3 million in health insurance through special subscriptions or through the government or private institutions they worked for.

They also paid a lot in health insurance in order to obtain tourist visas to visit the US and European countries. We do have fully qualified and specialized private hospitals that are fully capable of providing various kinds of treatments to health insurance holders,” officials explained.

Meanwhile, the cabinet has reiterated its commitment to presenting a united front against any grilling motion filed against any of its members in the upcoming period. The cabinet’s statement follows reports suggesting that at least four interpolation motions are currently being prepared against ministers.

The cabinet is also intent on maintaining its progress in implementing its development plan and will not allow political tensions to affect its efforts, reported Al-Qabas. There is a widespread feeling that while the reports of some interpolation motions are indeed correct, others are rumors being used to put pressure on ministers to carry out a cabinet reshuffle to force information minister and minister of oil Sheikh Ahmad Al-Abdullah Al-Sabah from his post after he survived a recent grilling, as well as a subsequent parliamentary no-confidence vote.

The cabinet will be studying all the points raised during Sheikh Ahmad Al-Abdullah’s recent grilling in order to take the necessary steps, said State Minister for Cabinet Affairs Dr. Roudhan Al-Roudhan, adding that it will also review the events that took place during the no-confidence vote session in order to devise new strategies to deal with political blocs in the future so as to gain their support and avoid further interpolations.

Meanwhile, the delay in issuing this year’s annual government report will lead to additional delays in deciding the state budget due to the connection between the report and the parliamentary finance committee’s budget schedule, meaning that any amendments to the report will necessitate making corresponding amendments to the budget.

On a separate issue, MP Dr. Faisal Al-Mislem revealed that the Development and Reform Bloc is to ask the parliamentary women’s affairs committee to commit itself to presenting a report on the civil and social rights bill, accusing the committee of obstructing the passing of the legislation.

MP Dr. Maasouma Al-Mubarak, a member of the joint parliamentary committee assigned to discuss the bill, denied reports that the committee had reached agreement with the cabinet during Tuesday’s session on adopting the bill, claiming that the cabinet still had reservations over the proposed legislation.

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Sheikh Khalifa Medical City (SKMC) managed by Cleveland Clinic hosted the Music and Medicine Concert Lecture today March 29, at 1:30 pm in cooperation with Cleveland Clinic Arts and Medicine Institute and Abu Dhabi Music and Arts Foundation (ADMAF). More than 60 patients, visitors and doctors attended the event which took place in SKMC is owned and operated by SEHA, the Abu Dhabi Health Services Company, which is responsible for the curative activities of all the public hospitals and clinics in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi.

The goal of hosting the Music and Medicine Concert at SKMC is to bring the arts and music to the bedside which assists in the healing process. Dr. Tej Maini, CEO of SKMC’s patients and visitors. Studies have shown that music has positively impacted health and wellness throughout time and across cultures.”

“Our patient population at SKMC is multicultural; we receive patients from more than 60 different nationalities”, Dr. Maini added. “Last year’s concert was successful; our patients have enjoyed it and benefited from it, and we intend to present this annually in corporation with the Arts and Medicine Institute of Cleveland Clinic and ADMAF.”

Kamal Chémali, M.D., Cleveland Clinic physician and a course director of the Concert-Symposium said, “Cleveland Clinic believes that healing should begin the moment a patient walks through our doors. New research shows that the arts are good medicine – providing comfort, elevating the spirit, and affirming life and hope. When used as a therapy, music can provide pain relief and reduce anxiety. The arts, when combined with outstanding patient care, create an environment that encourages healing”.

“The healing, nurturing effects of music and art cannot be overestimated. Through events such as the Music and Medicine Concert Lecture at the Abu Dhabi Festival, we can see for ourselves the happiness, comfort and reassurance music brings to those who are in pain or distress,” said H.E. Hoda Al-Khamis Kanoo, Abu Dhabi Music and Arts Foundation Founder and Director.

The Arts & Medicine Institute of Cleveland Clinic is the catalyst for integrating the arts in to the practice of medicine at Cleveland Clinic — from art and music therapies to performing arts medicine.

The Institute’s Executive Director, Iva Fattorini, M.D., explains her vision for the Institute as how her new programs are influencing Cleveland Clinic physicians and patients. She said “Our mission is to enhance the Cleveland Clinic experience of patients, visitors and employees through the arts, to practice and investigate the use of the arts in healing, and to build community around the arts, health and medicine.” The Arts & Medicine Institute creates and manages programs that: infuse the medical environment with the energy and vitality of the arts; contribute aesthetic beauty to Cleveland Clinic; expand and establish new programs that pair the arts with medical treatment and discovery; pursue research studies that support the relationship of art with medicine; and encourage arts and cultural activities at Cleveland Clinic.

Prisca Benoit, professor at the Superior Conservatoire of Paris and concert pianist, who performed for the patients at SKMC said, “I am always particularly moved from within when I play piano with doctors for patients. It is a completely different experience than in the concert hall that gives a new meaning and a broader dimension to our mission as musicians. Performing for patients is a truly rewarding experience.”

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The pilot project of Qatar’s National Health Insurance Scheme is ready for launch by next year. The law is ready and the government is working on the implementation aspect of the Scheme, said Minister of Public Health H E Abdullah bin Khalid Al Qahtani. He also revealed that the country’s first military hospital is under study.

The Minister was talking to a section of media on the sidelines of the 5th Finance & Investment in Qatar Forum here yesterday.

“Health insurance is a risky sector. The launch of the project needs a huge back-up system and a massive network with various stake holders including hospitals, employers and various other agencies. The government is working on that and I hope we could possibly launch the pilot project by next year. It is yet to be decided whether private sector would be a player in the proposed health insurance scheme,” he said.

The Minister said the country’s health care system is on a major revitalisation process. Currently the country’s public health sector has only 1.7 beds for 1000 people. This ratio would go up to 4.4/1000 people in 2013.

With the launch of the Hamad Medical City, the country would have four new hospitals and nursing home for the elderly. The commissioning of Sidra and the launch of the 280-bed military hospital would double the bed capacity of the country’s health sector by the first quarter of 2013.

“Over the last two decades the country’s health care system had witnessed great developments. The health sector has expanded significantly since the country’s first hospital opened is doors more than 50 years ago. The HMC will add two more hospitals in the near future, The Cardiology Centre of Excellence is set to open this summer and Al Wakra general hospital next year,” minister said.

As of now, the minister said, the primary health services are being discharged through 21 health centres. Within the coming five years, at least 8 primary health centres would be launched bringing the primary health care services to the door steps of the people. Tenders would be soon floated for Qatar’s first private-public partnership in the health sector to provide management and medical services for three hospitals, and five primary health centres dedicated to caring for the country’s large labour force.

The Minister said that the fund allocations for the health sector has been recording an exponential growth over the years. The annual budget has gone up from $1bn in 2007 to $2bn in 2010; and the per capita expenditure rose from $851 to $1379 during the same period.

The country’s private medical sector has recently witnessed a remarkable development. More than 300 private clinics and health complexes have come up during the last few years. Four modern private hospitals are now providing high quality health services in the country. “Our laws encourage such investments, be it local or international ones. The government allows 100 per cent foreign ownership in health ventures and income tax exemption for private health care facilities. The government also grant tax exemption for import of medical equipment and for other infrastructure to run health care facilities,” Al Qahtani said.

Qatar has set aside 2.8 per cent of its GDP to medical research. The country is targeting a high quality research aimed at enhancing its quality of health care system.

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