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Federal Law Will Help Aids Patients Integrate into Society

From formulating a national law on HIV/Aids to controlling drug prices, the UAE Minister of Health, Humaid Mohammed Obaid Al Qutami, sheds light on the several development projects being undertaken by his ministry in an interview with 
Khaleej Times.

When will the law to include HIV/Aids patients in the mainstream jobs be rolled out and what is it expected to stipulate? Will the current rule of deporting patients with infectious diseases stand as it is?

A new legislation and system defining the rights of HIV/Aids patients and the areas of work and education will come into effect in the first quarter of this year. Currently, it is being processed formally and is awaiting approval from official departments. The law will help the patients integrate into the community though with health check-ups.

The legislation aims at early diagnosis and preventing spread of the disease. The Ministry of Health (MoH) will give top priority to the privacy of the patients, according to the traditions and customs of the country. But we will ensure that necessary treatment and medicine reach all.

At present, 540 registered HIV positive cases are there in the UAE and most of the patients are around 25 years. The number of infected UAE citizens is very low in comparison with international figures. According to the World Health Organisation, the number of people infected worldwide is 40 million while 25 million have died since the disease was first found more than two decades ago.

Though most patients are currently receiving treatment from MoH clinics, some prefer to stay at home with their families.

The UAE is among the first countries in the GCC to take positive steps to contain the disease according to international standards. We also regularly hold awareness programmes on the disease.

Regarding deportation of infected expatriates, it is not only the UAE that has implemented this rule. Several other countries in the world are following the same procedure since such patients need high levels of care and support.

Recently, the preventive departments detected many cases of infected expatriates of different nationalities. They have been deported.

Drug prices in the UAE are comparatively higher than those in the GCC. What steps is the MoH taking to reduce prices and encouraging more investment in the pharmaceutical sector?

We set up a new system for drug pricing in 2008 that works in conjunction with the international drug prices. For the past three years, we have not increased prices of drugs, except slightly. We have also formed committees to fix prices and check price hikes.

We will also soon put in place a mechanism for pharmacies to see if they are complying with the prices fixed by the MoH. In fact, the MoH is encouraging the local manufacturing of essential and important medicines so as to balance the prices. We have 10 factories to manufacture drugs locally that offer good prices as compared to international prices.

As the UAE is relying on imported drugs, the ministry is going to register the medicines that are not available in our market through the MoH Department of Registration and Drug Control.

On the other hand, following an increase in the number of requests submitted to the department to register alternative medicines from different sources, the MoH will soon start a registering process with other countries to make them available locally. However, the MoH will ensure that the step does not negatively affect the local manufacturing market. We have also set up a Higher Council of Pharmaceutical Manufacturing to unify the practices in the pharmaceutical sector.

What steps is the MoH taking to overcome the shortage of nurses and other technical staff? Are there plans to allow qualified nurses and technicians to work on visit visas to meet the shortage?

The shortage of staff in this field is a worldwide issue. However, the UAE is in the process of establishing the Emirates Higher Council for Nursing and Midwifery under the patronage of Princess Haya bint Al Hussain, wife of His Highness Shaikh Mohammad bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai.

Formation of this council is meant to combat the problems related to the nursing and midwifery professions, and is a good step towards improving the healthcare sector.

Currently, 15,000 nurses, male and female, are working in the UAE health departments and they represent at least 40-45 per cent of the staff in the health sector. Therefore, the ministry is giving top priority to developing the profession and encouraging its practice.

In this regard, three institutes — one each in Ras Al Khaimah, Sharjah and Fujairah — are providing training courses to students so that they can acquire the proper skills.

When will the federal health insurance law be implemented and how will it work?

The ministry, in cooperation with the departments concerned, has put the issue before the Federal National Council, and it will be submitted to the cabinet for final approval thereafter.

Some topics under the health insurance scheme still need intense study from departments such as the Fatwa and Legislation Department. Other topics important for the general health and health insurance sector have to be reviewed and subjected to studies only after which the law will be approved and submitted to the cabinet.

How does the MoH plan to tackle medical malpractices in the absence of proper regulations and when are regulations in this regard expected?

In addition to the MoH Committee on Medical Licensing and Practice Affairs, we have specialised committees in hospitals to investigate and deal with such complaints.

We also have the law on Medical Responsibilities, which overlooks and protects the rights of all parties according to the terms defined by the MoH and the Professional Honour Charter for the medical practitioner.

What is the MoH doing to encourage UAE nationals to seek treatment in the country itself instead going abroad? How much is spent annually on such treatments?

The MoH is currently doing its best to bring international experts with higher qualifications to the UAE. We are also trying to equip our health centres with all the modern medical devices according to the international health standards so as to provide the best medical services to the citizens and residents.

Through these steps, we aim to limit treatments and cases sent abroad.

In 2007, at least 417 patients sought treatment abroad as compared to 333 cases in 2006. However, most of these cases were serious, including cancer and advanced heart diseases, proper treatment of which is not available in the UAE. However, such treatments do not undermine the role of medical services in the country. Several other countries also send patients abroad for treatment if there is a need.

Under the health strategy for 2010, where does the MoH stand at present? What has been achieved and what is the target? Have the key areas been identified and what solutions does the MoH see?

Our strategy includes 35 very important group of initiatives through which the MoH will achieve the target of the health strategy.

These initiatives include developing health, technical, financial and administrative systems, besides the application of IT system, which will be implemented before the yearend.

By the yearend, we also hope to develop and enhance technical skills and abilities of our staff through flexible training courses and evaluating them based on performance indicators set by internationally reputed institutes.

These training courses target all MoH staff categories.

What steps are being taken to reach patients in far-flung areas?

The Primary Health Centres are an important part of the UAE healthcare sector since they serve a big number of expatriates and citizens.

The ministry is specially focusing on this department to provide health services to everyone, wherever they are.

asmaalizain@khaleejtimes.com