Category: Medical Care

GENEVA: WHO member states agreed to resume negotiations aimed at finalising a pandemic agreement during 29th April to 10th May. The decision came at the end of two weeks of intensive country-led discussions on critical subjects aimed at making all countries of the world better prepared for, and able to effectively and equitably respond to future pandemics.

This ninth meeting of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Body (INB9) started on 18th March and ended 28th March. Government negotiators discussed all articles from the draft agreement, including adequate financing for pandemic preparedness, equitable access to medical countermeasures needed during pandemics and health workforce strengthening.

‘Our member states are fully aware of how important the pandemic agreement is for protecting future generations from the suffering we endured through the COVID-19 pandemic,’ said WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. ‘I thank them for their clear commitment to finding common ground and finalising this h
istoric agreement in time for the World Health Assembly.’

Next month’s resumption of INB9 will be a critical milestone ahead of the Seventy-seventh World Health Assembly, starting 27th May 2024, at which member states are scheduled to consider the proposed text of the world’s first pandemic agreement for adoption.

Dr. Precious Matsoso, Co-Chair of the INB Bureau, said, ‘There is clear recognition from governments that the goal of a pandemic agreement is to prepare the world for preventing and responding to future pandemics, built on consensus, solidarity and equity. These goals must remain our North Star as we move toward the finalisation of this historic, pressing commitment for the world. We know that if we fail, we will be failing humanity, including all those who suffered from COVID-19, and those at risk of future pandemics.’

Fellow INB Bureau Co-Chair, Roland Driece, said, ‘Governments said clearly we cannot fail to reach an agreement at the next World Health Assembly to make the world healthier, fair
er and safer from pandemics. We are at the finishing line, and we are committed to maximising the remaining negotiations to reach the result the entire world needs.’

In December 2021, the World Health Assembly met in a Special Session, the second-ever since WHO’s founding in 1948, and decided to establish the INB to draft and negotiate a WHO convention, agreement, or other international instrument on pandemic prevention, preparedness and response. The process has involved the participation of other United Nations system bodies, non-state actors, other relevant stakeholders, and the public.

Source: Emirates News Agency

ABU DHABI: PureHealth has launched student and graduate trainee programmes for UAE Nationals with the aim of supporting Emiratisation targets in the UAE’s healthcare sector. The programmes are part of the Emirati Development Center, a initiative initiated by PureHealth in line with the Abu Dhabi Economic Vision 2030. Open to graduate and undergraduate students in the clinical, pharmaceutical, nursing, and management fields, the Emirati Development Center will offer student and graduate trainee programmes, helping to foster a sustainable UAE National healthcare workforce.

To offer a diverse range of learning experiences and accommodate various academic schedules and career aspirations, the Graduate Trainee Programme lasts for 12 months, while the Student Trainee Programme is for a shorter and flexible term. Both programmes will provide young, National talent with opportunities to start and accelerate their career by enabling personal and professional development through on-the-job training and learning from e
xperience.

Rashed Al Qubaisi, Chief Corporate Officer at PureHealth, said: ‘At PureHealth, our core mission is to nurture the next generation of healthcare leaders. Our focus lies in equipping them with vital practical skills and knowledge gained through hands-on experiences and real-world projects. We maintain a steadfast commitment to fostering a strong and highly skilled national healthcare workforce, with the ultimate goal of driving advancements within the healthcare sector in the UAE. Our efforts play a key role in supporting Abu Dhabi’s Economic Vision 2030, as well as national economic plans to achieve greater self-sufficiency, we are proud of our collaborations with esteemed academic institutions, which play a key role in supporting our endeavors.’

PureHealth has established partnerships with leading universities with the aim of building a sustainable pool of UAE National talent, nurturing the growth of young leaders who will shape the future of the healthcare industry. To ensure the selection of t
he leading candidates for these programmes, shortlisted applicants will undergo various interviews and assessments.

As part of the group’s long-term commitment to nurturing 1,000 future UAE Nationals within the coming years and solidifying its status as the employer of choice, the Emirati Development Center plays a significant role in enhancing the skills and knowledge of employees, offering tailored learning and development journeys designed to drive their professional growth.

Source: Emirates News Agency

DUBAI: Takeda, the patient-centric biopharmaceutical company, brought its global ‘In Their Shoes’ program to the UAE. The initiative, focused on raising awareness of the difficult symptoms of Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD), entailed an immersive 24-hour simulation that generated a deeper understanding of how the disease affects the daily lives of patients.

It is estimated that more than 10 million people worldwide live with IBD. Traditionally, IBD has been regarded as a disease of the Western world; however, studies over the last two decades have shown a rapidly increasing incidence in newly industrialised countries in the Middle East, Asia, and South America. It is estimated that 2-4% of the UAE population is affected with one of the two IBD subtypes, Crohn’s disease, and Ulcerative Colitis

IBD is a lifelong condition characterized by chronic inflammation in the gastrointestinal tract. While inflammation is the body’s natural reaction to irritation or injury, in patients with IBD, it is thought that the
body’s immune system mistakenly identifies a harmless food or bacteria within the gut as ‘foreign’ and attacks it. This mistake by the immune system leads to an upset in the normal function of the gut and causes symptoms such as abdominal pain and diarrhoea. IBD can lead to debilitating effects on patients and society.

The ‘In Their Shoes’ initiative offers participants (Healthcare Professionals) a profound understanding of IBD throughout a 24-hour simulation, that took place on September 7th, 2023, and ended the next day. Using a mobile app and an ‘IBD kit,’ participants engaged in common struggles, gaining insights into the disease’s physical and emotional challenges. Through role-play and interactions with actors, they gain valuable perspective on how IBD affects patients’ both professional and personal life.

Of the esteemed participants was Sheikha Dr Alia Humaid AlQassimi, Aesthetic Gynaecologist at Al Garhoud Private Hospital, and Social Development Expert at the Community Development Authority, who c
ommented on her experience in the simulation, ‘The most unexpected realization about the challenges that IBD patients face was the around-the-clock inconvenience of needing a restroom, as a result of the inconsistent bowel movements known to the disease. With the actors present as part of the simulation, I was able to feel the burden of being someone who is in constant need of special care.”

Dr. Maryam Al Khatry, founder of the Emirates Inflammatory Bowel Disease Society, confirms her full support for this pioneering initiative. She stressed that highlighting the challenges of this disease goes beyond the issue of awareness, as it is a call to everyone to consider those suffering from the symptoms of the disease and help them overcome its impact on their daily lives and work. As medical teams and individuals in this community, we are committed to promoting the spirit of unlimited support with the goal of further integrating those affected into our community. Through the Emirates Inflammatory Bowel Disease S
ociety, we confirm our support for this vital initiative, and we stand by all initiatives that seek to improve the quality of life and enhance the productivity of individuals in our society.

Ahmed Fayed, General Manager for Gulf countries and Lebanon, at Takeda, said, ‘At Takeda, our commitment to addressing life-limiting gastrointestinal diseases is unwavering. Alongside our continuous work on innovative treatments within our gastroenterology portfolio, we recognize the significant impact programs like ‘In Their Shoes’ can have on improving patients’ lives.’

The ‘In Their Shoes’ initiative was first launched in the U.S. with a 24-hour simulation during which dozens of Takeda employees learned about the condition most effectively and profoundly: by ‘living with it.’ Following the success of the launch at our U.S. headquarters, Takeda extended the reach of ‘In Their Shoes’ by organizing more simulations across the globe, to spread awareness and knowledge of IBD’s negative effects on its sufferers’ daily li
ves.

Source: Emirates News Agency

ABU DHABI: In a regional first, the Imperial College London Diabetes Centre (ICLDC), part of the M42 group, announced it will open a dedicated one-stop facility in Madinat Zayed to provide comprehensive care for diabetes and endocrine patients. The new tech-enabled, world-class centre in Al Dhafra will serve a critical part of Abu Dhabi’s population, providing targeted prevention and intervention for more than 6,000 diabetes sufferers in the region.

Set to open in the second half of this year, the state-of-the-art facility will bring comprehensive care closer to those in need and cut travel time by more than 75 percent. Currently, the flagship ICLDC in Abu Dhabi city serves around 9 percent of the Al Dhafra population of sufferers. The new facility in Madinat Zayed will provide greater access to sufferers across the Al Dhafra region including residents in Liwa, Mirfa, Gayathi, Ruwais, and Tarif. In addition to providing clinical care, ICLDC will continue to promote preventive solutions for Type 2 diabetes, w
ith an extensive community outreach programme including workshops, health screenings, and educational programmes for schools and organisations, as well as promoting an active lifestyle and healthy eating.

Hasan Jasem Al Nowais, Managing Director, and Group Chief Executive Officer, M42, said, ‘M42 is committed to providing world-class preventive and personalised health solutions that enable individuals to put their health back in their own hands. As a leader in diabetes and endocrine management and prevention, the Imperial College London Diabetes Centre is positively impacting lives across the UAE. Expanding our one-stop services to Al Dhafra presents an opportunity to serve a much greater number of UAE residents with an innovative model that provides premium, tech-enabled health solutions that result in tangible positive clinical outcomes.’

With a proven track record of nearly two decades, ICLDC’s model for diabetes prevention and management has significantly reduced HbA1c values in patients across the UAE.

ICLDC has played a key role in revolutionising population health in the UAE over the past twenty years. ICLDC’s efforts have led to a notable decrease in HbA1c levels, dropping from an average of 9.5 percent to an impressive 7.2 percent among its patients. A remarkable 57 percent of ICLDC’s patients now have HbA1c results below 7 percent, surpassing the international benchmark of 38 percent. These exceptional outcomes demonstrate the expertise and commitment of the team of over 65 consultants in diabetes and endocrine care across ICLDC’s facilities.

The new Al Dhafrah ICLDC centre will be equipped with the latest diagnostic and management facilities supported by a world-class multi-specialty team. The centre will operate state-of-the-art outpatient services, providing specialised care for diabetes and endocrine-related complications.

Dr. Mai Al Jaber, Chief Executive Officer of ICLDC, said, “Today, the need for accessible and comprehensive diabetes care has never been more apparent. Serving more of the Al D
hafra population is an honour and a duty we are fully committed to. Our aim is to provide patients with the best patient-centric and comprehensive diabetes and endocrinology solutions, under one roof and closer to home.”

ICLDC’s Madinat Zayed facility will be the fourth dedicated facility in the UAE, in addition to a satellite clinic based in Mubadala Health Dubai, offering integrated diabetes and endocrine treatment services.

The new clinic’s patient journey will provide comprehensive services from registration to consultations and pharmacy support.

Source: Emirates News Agency

ABU DHABI: The National Health Insurance Company-Daman, part of PureHealth, has announced a partnership with AXA – Global Healthcare to offer members enhanced International Private Medical Insurance (IPMI).

Daman’s customers with international coverage plans will benefit from new global coverage plans that provide members access to AXA’s Select network of 1.9 million healthcare providers worldwide. The new Global Healthcare Plan is a locally licenced and compliant product administered by Daman and internationally supported by AXA – Global Healthcare.

The plans provide round-the-clock access to a team experienced in handling claims and to AXA’s Virtual Care services. Members can use the Daman Mobile app to conveniently and securely access the wide range of benefits from their plans.

Khaled Ateeq Aldhaheri, Chief Executive Officer of Daman, commented, “We are delighted to announce our partnership with AXA – Global Healthcare, marking a significant step to expand our global health insurance offering. At Daman
, our customer transformation strategy is deeply rooted in our commitment to meeting the evolving needs of our clients. With extensive overseas travel prevalent in this market, particularly considering the UAE’s status as a global business hub.”

Karim Idilby, Managing Director- Middle East and Africa for AXA – Global Healthcare, said, “As one of the world’s largest IPMI markets, establishing a leadership position in the UAE has been a priority. Daman, with its strong distribution reach, domestic network, and digital platform, is the perfect partner with whom we will achieve our shared vision for growth in IPMI in the UAE.”

Source: Emirates News Agency

DUBAI: The Dubai Health Authority(DHA) recently concluded the Dubai Medical Research Forum 2024, which witnessed significant engagement and rich discussions on the global challenges facing the field of medical research and specialisation in general, as well as the rapid developments and innovative advancements in the local and global healthcare sector in this field.

The event was attended by Dr. Wadeia Mohammad Sharief, Director of the Medical Education and Research Department at the Dubai Health Authority, along with a large group of experts and specialists from within and outside the country.

Dr. Wadeia stated that the forum showcased the latest global developments in the field of medical research, key issues related to it, and the increasing role of research in renewing and updating healthcare systems, professional practices, protocols, smart technologies, and other important topics.

She highlighted the richness of dialogues and discussions in the sessions, lectures, and workshops organised as part of t
his year’s forum agenda, confirming that the presence of elite scientists, experts, and specialists provided a valuable opportunity for exchanging experiences and emphasising the value of medical research and its importance in the healthcare sector’s system, being one of the key foundations for planning, policymaking, and decision-making.

Source: Emirates News Agency

SHANGHAI: Shanghai Jiao Tong University and Zhejiang Orient Gene Biotech Co Ltd announced that they have jointly developed a multi-index in vitro detection system based on quantum dot liquid biochips.

Experts believe it will make significant contributions to the popularisation and application of liquid biochip technology in China and further improve the country’s level of technology in the field of in vitro diagnostics.

In vitro diagnostics (IVDs) are tests that can detect disease, conditions and infections. In vitro simply means ‘in glass’, meaning these tests are typically conducted in test tubes and similar equipment, as opposed to in vivo tests, which are conducted in the body itself.

Liquid biochips are suitable for both nucleic acid and protein markers. With advantages of large detection throughput and high detection sensitivity, it can analyse dozens of targets in a single tube sample at one time. This means the technology is expected to trigger revolutionary improvement in the detection efficiency
and promote clinical laboratory testing.

“The technology can be used for tests to identify biomarkers for cancers, inflammatory infections, autoimmune diseases, and cardiovascular diseases among many others,” said Li Wanwan, a researcher with Shanghai Jiao Tong University’s School of Materials Science and Engineering and a leading scientist of the novel detection system.

The liquid biochip technology and its relevant signal interpretation have been monopolised by some foreign countries for long, with mounting barriers in both technical breakthroughs and manufacturing.

The research team led by Li at Shanghai Jiao Tong University and the Zhejiang enterprise have joined hands for collaboration for 18 years and have achieved a complete technological breakthrough in the entire chain from quantum dot fluorescent microspheres and detection analysers, to supporting inspection reagents, and successfully created a quantum dot liquid biochip technology platform with independent intellectual property rights, breaking
the international monopoly.

The system developed by the local teams is so far the only fully automatic liquid biochip system in the world that adopts single laser technology. It possesses advantages of small size, high throughput, low sample size, high accuracy, wide linear range, and low cost.

Detection reagents for diseases, including cancers, autoimmune diseases, cardiovascular diseases and infectious diseases, used by the system have been developed accordingly. The series of detectors and supporting detection kits have obtained altogether 15 medical device registrations and certifications in China and Europe, said Li.

Source: Emirates News Agency

DUBAI: The Ministry of Health and Prevention (MoHAP) lit up prominent landmarks across the country in red, celebrating World TB Day on 24th March observed this year under the theme “Yes! We can end TB.”

Illuminated landmarks included Dubai Frame, Mohammed bin Rashid Library, Fujairah Fort, Zayed Sports Complex in Fujairah, and Ajman Museum.

The initiative, conducted in collaboration with various partners and institutions, aimed to raise public awareness about tuberculosis (TB), emphasising the importance of early detection and prevention.

In addition to the landmark illuminations, MoHAP organised an informative lecture for its employees as well as a series of educational activities nationwide, targeting diverse community segments, including individuals in health centres and workplaces. These activities were aimed at enhancing the public’s understanding and awareness of TB, focusing on the disease’s symptoms, causes, and preventive strategies.

World TB Day is not just a ceremonial event but a pivotal momen
t to broaden public understanding of TB, highlighting its prevention, treatment, and the significant public health challenges it poses.

Every year, this day provides a crucial platform to galvanise international efforts to curtail the spread of TB and enhance the quality of care and support available to those impacted by the disease. Additionally, observing World TB Day in the UAE highlights the diagnostic and therapeutic services offered by the ministry free of charge to those infected, further emphasising the commitment to addressing this pressing public health issue.

Supporting International Efforts

Dr. Hussain Abdul Rahman Al Rand, Assistant Under-Secretary for the Public Health Sector, said, “World TB Day provides an ideal opportunity to showcase the UAE’s success in reducing the incidence of TB, highlighting our persistent efforts to enhance global collaboration, support scientific research, pioneer new treatments, and craft sustainable solutions.’

Al Rand added, ‘The UAE follows the WHO Regional Ac
tion Plan on Tuberculosis for the Eastern Mediterranean Region 2023-2030, underscoring our commitment to sustainable development goals and combating the disease.”

Dr. Al Rand emphasised that the ministry has launched comprehensive preventive measures to curb and manage TB’s spread, collaborating closely with strategic partners. These measures include improving the surveillance system for TB, setting up efficient monitoring frameworks, ensuring uninterrupted access to medications, and providing targeted training for healthcare professionals.

The measures also feature proactive screenings to detect TB early among residency applicants, before their entry into the country and after their arrival, along with routine screenings to facilitate the prompt identification of the disease.

Community Awareness Campaigns

Dr. Nada Al Marzouqi, Director of the Department of Public Health and Prevention, reaffirmed that the ministry is committed to enhancing public health awareness about TB through targeted campaigns, prog
rammes and comprehensive awareness events that foster community engagement. Through such initiatives, we look forward to highlighting the importance of early detection and the need to adopt preventive strategies to avert the spread of the infection. ‘Our initiatives are bolstered by sophisticated healthcare systems as well as strategic plans aimed at enhancing public awareness and knowledge.’

With its partners, the ministry continues to battle TB, ensuring seamless access to care and support services for patients. These collective efforts play a pivotal role in fortifying the healthcare system, curbing the spread of communicable diseases, fostering a sustainable, healthy environment, and ultimately promoting health and well-being for all members of society.

Source: Emirates News Agency