Cardio Vascular Disease (CVD) is a leading cause of mortality in the UAE.   According to a study on CVD deaths in UAE, 22% were attributable to acute myocardial infarction (AMI), 16% to cerebrovascular disease, 6% to ischemic heart disease and 5% to hypertension.    Prevalence of obesity and associated non-communicable diseases are extremely high in UAE expatriates.  Dubai, UAE, July 19, 2018:   With increasing incidence of cardiovascular diseases in UAE, experts are urging communities to be more aware of early symptoms of heart diseases, and get diagnosed in time to prevent health complications. To meet the growing need for cardiovascular services in the UAE, Aster Hospital, Mankhool has opened a state-of-the-art Cath lab that will allow residents to access high quality cardiac services in ......read more

United Arab Emirates, Dubai, July 19, 2018:  There were several complications along the way and time was not on their hands, but the multidisciplinary team at Rashid Hospital successfully carried out the first pulmonary embolism catheter directed clot lysis procedure in Dubai saving the life of a 64-year-old Arab expatriate. Pulmonary embolism is a life-threatening condition that is caused by blood clots that travel from the legs to the lungs and block the blood flow to the lungs.  Dr Shibu Bahuleyan, Cardiologist at Rashid Hospital said, “The patient was brought into the emergency department with complaints of drowsiness and weakness. His blood pressure was very low, so we immediately started IV fluids to keep him stable. We also conducted a battery of tests including an ECG and chest ......read more

Studies indicate that 40 percent of the infertility cases are caused by men, 40 percent by women and the other 20 percent correspond to mix or combined causes Dubai, UAE, 19 July 2018:    There is a misconception that infertility affects women more than men.  Both are impacted equally, according to experts at IVI Middle East Fertility Clinic – UAE’s leading infertility services institution.  “Infertility impacts both men and women. It is important to know that this problem does not concern the woman only. Our research proves that there are ample cases attributed to rising male infertility too and it’s about time that we took note of this,” said Prof. Dr. Human Fatemi, ESHRE certified Subspecialist, Reproductive Medicine and Reproductive Surgery, and Medical Director at IVI Middle ......read more

Dubai, United Arab Emirates, July 18, 2018:   His Excellency Humaid Al Qutami, Director-General of the Dubai Health Authority (DHA) recently received a high-level delegation from the British Embassy. The delegation was led by HE Andrew Jackson, Her Majesty's Consul General to Dubai and Northern Emirates and included Karen Baggaley, Healthcare Trade and Investment Advisor at the Department for International Trade at the British Embassy in Abu Dhabi and Claus Peter Rees, High Value Opportunity Specialist at the British Embassy in Dubai.  Al Qutami highlighted the long-standing relationship between the two countries in several fields including the health sector. He discussed ways to explore and enhance cooperation between the two countries in the medical field. He added that DHA is keen to collaborate with global ......read more

Schools to encourage students to increase physical activity to 150 minutes a week. School healthcare staff to receive training on comprehensive child screening. All school clinic set-ups in Dubai to be unified  Dubai, United Arab Emirates, July 18, 2018:   In a move to help implement the comprehensive Dubai School Health Policy, the Dubai Health Authority (DHA) and the Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA) recently signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU).    DHA developed the five-year policy after extensive consultation with stakeholders including KHDA, Dubai Municipality, Dubai Sports Council etc. with an aim to create a safe, healthy and motivating school environment for pupils.     The MoU with KHDA will support the implementation of the policy, it will aid ......read more

Dubai, United Arab Emirates, July 16, 2018:  Dubai Health Authority (DHA) will rate all healthcare facilities including public and private hospitals and day-care health centres in Dubai in accordance with the Dubai Health Facilities Performance Framework (DHFPF)   The framework, known as Qeyas, will be finalized and implemented by the beginning of next year and has five pillars which include patient safety, clinical quality, patient happiness, financial and operational indicators.   The DHA’s Health Regulation Sector held a workshop today with the private health sector to discuss the design and implementation of the framework. This is one of the several workshops and feedback cycles conducted with an aim to design a framework with buy-in from hospitals and other healthcare facilities.   Dr ......read more

Proper precautions and preventative measures can lower the risk of injuries United Arab Emirates, Dubai, 15th July 2018:  With the football World Cup fever gripping the world, it is natural to assume that footballers are pain free. However, constant twists, turns and sudden changes of direction involved in football can put the legs and feet of a footballer under tremendous strain. It has been observed that 50-80 percent of football injuries affect the feet and legs. 40-45 percent of leg injuries involve ankle injuries and foot pain, while knee injuries account for 25 percent of leg injuries.  While most injuries involve little more than some mild pain and discomfort, some can be really serious. One of the most common injuries footballers experience on a regular basis is a sprained ankle, which occurs when ligaments in the ......read more

Dubai, UAE, July 15, 2018:   The odds were against him. More than 90 percent of people with basilar artery occlusion don’t survive if they are not treated correctly, but lucky for sea captain Renato Garcia, the timely and effective care he received by doctors at Rashid Hospital saved his life.  The sea captain was left completely paralyzed after suffering a brain stroke while working on his ship.  “One minute I was fine and the next I felt dizzy. I then blacked out and when I woke up, the paramedics were carrying me to the ambulance. I felt trapped in my body because my brain was functioning but I couldn’t move any part of my body including my face.”  Garcia was transported from Dubai Marina to Rashid Hospital on June 16, where the neurology department diagnosed him with basilar ......read more

Promising first-in-class and potential medical breakthrough pipeline projects presented at R&D Press Conference  80 clinical and pre-clinical projects of which 65% have first-in-class and breakthrough potential  Highlight: First-in-class monoclonal antibody shows potential in multiple inflammatory diseases 15 new medicines could potentially be approved by 2025 in immunology, CNS, oncology, respiratory and cardiometabolic diseases   Dubai, UAE, July 15, 2018:  Family-owned pharmaceutical company Boehringer Ingelheim presented its latest pipeline updates at a recent event at its global headquarters in Ingelheim, Germany. The company’s R&D strategy and current pipeline has the potential to deliver 15 new medicines for approval by 2025 (probability adjusted). With a high percentage of ......read more

Sharjah – 14 July 2018 :  The Breastfeeding Friends Society, one of the health promotion associations at the Supreme Council for Family Affairs in Sharjah, continues to organize the monthly “Forum for mothers”, in cooperation with a variety of local and private hospitals in Sharjah. The association aims to use these forums to educate mothers on the importance of breastfeeding, and to exchange experiences and tips on coping with breastfeeding and motherhood. A delegation from the society organizes 5 to 6 monthly visits to mothers in various maternity wards, where the breastfeeding guides and the volunteers work to help pregnant women and new mothers on their breastfeeding journey, and to educate them on the importance of breastfeeding. The delegation, which works to help around 150-200 mothers of all ......read more

Aster Hospital, Mankhool opens state-of-art Cath lab with advanced Cardiovascular diagnostic facilities, affirming foray into tertiary care services in UAE Cardio Vascular Disease (CVD) is a leading cause of mortality in the UAE.   According to a study on CVD deaths in UAE, 22% were attributable to acute myocardial infarction (AMI), 16% to cerebrovascular disease, 6% to ischemic heart disease and 5% to hypertension.    Prevalence of obesity and associated non-communicable diseases are extremely high in UAE expatriates.  Dubai, UAE, July 11, 2018:   With increasing incidence of cardiovascular diseases in UAE, experts are urging communities to be more aware of early symptoms of heart diseases, and get diagnosed in time to prevent health complications. To meet the growing need for ......read more

UAE, 10 July, 2018 - The Ministry of Health and Prevention (MOHAP) issued a circular ordering the recall of some antihypertensive medicines containing the active ingredient Valsartan, manufactured by Chinese company Zhejiang Huahai Pharmaceutical after the detection of impurities in the active ingredient.  This recall is a precautionary measure taken by the Ministry following the report issued by the European Medicines Agency indicating the detection of a contamination of the active ingredient with N-nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA), a chemical that might lead to cancer. Valsartan is a medicine used for the treatment of hypertension to prevent related cardiovascular complications. According to the Ministry, the circular was released and addressed to all directors of the medical districts, directors of public and private hospitals, ......read more

The Nabadat (Arabic for heartbeat) Initiative launched by Mohammed bin Rashid Charity and Humanitarian Establishment in collaboration with the Dubai Health Authority provides free cardiac surgeries and medical care to children whose parents cannot afford treatment. Many of the families came from small towns, 1200 kilometers away from Mumbai, to provide their children with an opportunity to receive free treatment.  United Arab Emirates, Dubai, July 10, 2018:   More than 100 Indian children will receive a new lease of life due to free heart surgeries that the cardiac team from DHA are performing in Mumbai to treat children with cardiac congenital abnormalities.  The initiative is taking place under the patronage of Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives.   Nabadat, which means ......read more

Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, ÜJuly 10, 2018 –   HP Inc., a global leader in innovative technology, has collaborated with Abu Dhabi’s Danat Al Emarat Hospital to transform the typical dull setting of a CT scan room to a colorful comfort zone. Danat Al Emarat, part of United Eastern Medical Services (UEMedical), is a specialty hospital in Abu Dhabi catering to women and children’s medical needs. In partnership with GE Healthcare, HP is re-inventing patients’ experience by utilizing its state-of-the-art Latex Printing Technology to design and print a fun, underwater themed wallpaper and equipment cover that aims to minimize the stress that comes with going into a scan room for critical tests.  “Patients, especially children, fear the concept of visiting hospitals and facing daunting ......read more

First and only medicine approved to treat two types of MS: relapsing forms of MS (RMS) and PPMS  First and only approved disease-modifying therapy for primary progressive multiple sclerosis (PPMS), one of the most disabling forms of MS    First and only approved MS treatment to target the immune cells, thought to be responsible for the damage that leads to disability  Dubai, 10th July, 2018:   OCREVUS™ (ocrelizumab), a first of its kind therapy for both relapsing (RMS) and primary progressive forms of multiple sclerosis (PPMS), amongst the most disabling forms of MS, is now available in the UAE. Offering renewed hope to patients across the Emirates, the therapy, launched by Roche Pharmaceuticals and approved in August 2017 by the UAE Ministry of Health and Prevention (MOHAP), is the first ......read more

UAE, 9 July 2018- In line with the UAE Strategy for Artificial Intelligence (AI), one of the vital projects within the framework of UAE Centennial Plan 2071 to improve government performance, accelerate achievement and build creative and innovative work environments, the Ministry of Health and Prevention (MOHAP) announced its plans to introduce Virtual Reality (VR) rehabilitation in physiotherapy for stroke patients, patients suffering from balance disorder and children with development disorders, cerebral palsy and Parkinson's syndrome, using artificial intelligence techniques to provide competitive health services locally and globally. VR rehabilitation technology makes use of virtual world simulation to meet various requirements for effective medical intervention to achieve the best results using the video game controller and ......read more

The basic benefit plan under the mandatory health insurance scheme to cover screening and treatment of Hepatitis C All Dubai visa holders (who automatically by law have the mandatory health insurance cover) are now eligible for Hepatitis C screening as per international best practice criteria. The initiative will especially benefit those with limited insurance coverage and will reduce late detection of the disease. Joint efforts of the Authority, pharmaceutical companies and insurance providers with an aim to focus on preventive community medicine, led to the culmination of this initiative. Dubai, United Arab Emirates, July 9, 2018:   Dubai Health Authority (DHA) announced today the inclusion of free screening and treatment for Hepatitis C under the basic benefit plan of the Dubai Mandatory Health Insurance ......read more

The lab is equipped with cutting-edge technology that will directly improve patient outcomes and experience.  Advances in technology can significantly help not only save lives but also minimize the invasiveness of cardiac procedures. The Heart Navigator System and the Dynamic Road Map feature are only available in the cath lab at Rashid Hospital in the Middle East. The cardiology department is the second busiest unit in the hospital after the Emergency and Trauma Centre. Out of the total admissions in the cardiology department, 50 to 60 per cent of the procedures are performed in the cath lab (non-surgical methods).  Of all the coronary angiography procedures performed, today almost 80 per cent are treated in the cath lab as opposed to open-heart surgery. More than 1,900 patients underwent cath procedures at ......read more

There are more than 400 genetic disorders in the UAE. Mandatory pre-marital screening has been successful in drastically reducing the incidence of new Thalassemia cases. Prevention vital tool to reduce incidence of these diseases Genetic advances such as predictive genetic testing means genes are no longer a deciding factor of disease. Advances in technology to radically reduce new cases and help better manage existing ones. United Arab Emirates, Dubai, July 2, 2018:   Dubai will host the 7th International Genetic Disorders Conference which aims to bring together regional and world experts in the field of genetics to discuss the latest advances in detection and management of genetic diseases.   The conference, organized by the UAE Genetic Diseases Association, will take place on the on 9th and 10th ......read more

Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates – July 1, 2018:   NMC ProVita International Medical Center, a subsidiary of the UAE’s largest healthcare provider NMC Healthcare and the pioneer for post-acute care including long term care, post-acute rehabilitation and home health services in the UAE, nursed a patient back to health following a brain stroke.   Tamer, a 45-year-old Egyptian resident of Abu Dhabi, was admitted to NMC ProVita’s inpatient Multi-Disciplinary Medical Rehabilitation Program in March 2018, after having suffered a brain stroke which resulted in severe weakness in his right upper and lower limbs, swallowing difficulties, pain in his right hip and low spirits. He had become dependent with all activities of daily living and required rigorous physiotherapy amongst other treatments to reverse the ......read more

UAE, 27 June 2018 - Ministry of Health and Prevention (MOHAP) has launched the Critical Congenital Heart Disease (CCHD) screening program for all newborns. As part of the program launch, the MOHAP is equipping 9 hospitals across 5 emirates, Newborns delivered at these hospitals will now be screened for critical congenital heart disease (CCHD) using Eve – the first large-scale worldwide installation of Eve on Rad-97 Pulse CO-Oximeters from MASIMO.  The ministry has put in place necessary logistical and technical infrastructure for the effective implementation of the program, which includes providing trained personnel and the required medical devices to 9 hospitals providing delivery services, across 6 emirates, to cover 50 per cent of the population of the country. Early examination of congenital heart defects takes 3 minutes, ......read more

Dubai, UAE, June 25, 2018:  Medeor 24x7 International Hospital Al Ain, a multi-speciality family hospital with state-of-the-art medical facilities signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Fatima College of Health Sciences to facilitate academic collaboration and educational development opportunities for UAE Nationals.  The MoU was signed by Dr. Arun Menon, Director of Operations at Medeor 24x7 International Hospital, Al Ain and Dr. Daryl A.Cornish, Director of Fatima College of Health Sciences at Medeor 24x7 International Hospital, Al Ain. The MoU will provide a platform for Emirati students to experience on-the-job training, enhance their clinical skills through programmes benchmarked against international best practices and develop their careers to secure post-graduation employment opportunities to become ......read more

Primary healthcare centres will continue to explore the use of technology to improve patient care United Arab Emirates, Dubai, June 25, 2018:   More than 1,000 patients have benefited since the launch of the headache clinics at Al Barsha and Nad Al Hamar primary healthcare centres last year. Dubai Health Authority (DHA) introduced a headache clinic in these two focal primary healthcare centres (PHCs) after examining the high volume of patients who come in complaining of headaches.  To provide specialised care, family physicians connected patients at the centres with neurologists and psychologists in Rashid Hospital. The telemedicine facility at the headache clinic is for urgent and follow-up cases and so far, 124 number of patients have used this facility.  “Telemedicine provides patients with ......read more

Dubai, UAE, June 25, 2018:  Royal Philips (NYSE: PHG, AEX: PHIA), a global leader in health technology, was ranked as one of the best places to work for in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) by Great Place to Work (GPTW).  The recognition is in line with Philips objectives of fostering a collaborative working environment that is driven towards performance excellence.  Philips’ people strategy focuses on three core pillars that guide the company’s initiatives and practices across the Middle East. This creates a culture of performance, promoting diversity and inclusion as well as building a workforce of the future. Ozlem Fidanci, Philips CEO Middle East and Turkey said, “We are proud to be recognized as one of the greatest places to work in the UAE. Philips’ goal is to improve the lives of three ......read more

Neurosurgeon at RAK Hospital saves a four-month-old Nigerian boy from stunted developmental growth and loss of physical and mental activities The baby was suffering from fluid accumulation within the brain with progressive swelling of the head June 24, 2018; Ras Al Khaimah, UAE:   Performing a challenging brain surgery against many odds and under critical circumstances, doctors at RAK Hospital saved a four-month-old baby from brain damage, mental retardation and even death.  Abdullahi David, a Nigerian infant was flown in from his native country to Ras Al Khaimah with complaints of progressive swelling in his head due to the accumulation of excessive fluids in his brain. Moreover, because of deteriorated brain function he had lost the ability to smile, an action that he was able to perform effortlessly ......read more