In the context of the Year of Zayed 2018, Ministry of Health and Prevention (MOHAP) signed two Memorandums of Understanding with 2 pharmaceutical companies AstraZeneca and Bayer, to provide free medicines for one year for patients with breast, ovarian and lung cancer, treated with AstraZeneca medicines, and patients with macular degeneration, impaired vision, liver cell carcinoma, differential thyroid cancer, and advanced kidney cancer, treated with Bayer medicines.

The Ministry of Health and Prevention (MOHAP) successfully launched the new research agenda for 2018-2019, which is aimed towards studying attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). The new agenda, which follows the government's directives to create key research and establish an innovative system for mental health, falls in line with the national policy activities aimed at promoting mental health in the UAE. During the launch, a summary of the research was presented to medical specialists and professionals attending the event. The event was held in the presence of H.E. Dr. Youssef Mohammed Al Serkal, Assistant Undersecretary for the Hospitals Sector, MOHAP; Dr. Mona Al Kuwari, Director of Specialized Care Department, MOHAP and Dr. Adel Kerani, Director of Al Amal Hospital, along with the members of the research teams.

The UAE has been among the global leaders in the fight against counterfeit drugs and implements a regional drug alert system, in line with its membership with the World Health Organization (WHO) – Uppsala Monitoring Centre, and that the country relentlessly works to develop regulatory legislation in accordance with international best practices, said H.E. Dr. Amin Hussein Al Amiri, Assistant Undersecretary of Public Health Policy and Licensing Sector, Ministry of Health and Prevention (MOHAP). 

The Ministry of Health and Prevention (MOHAP) successfully organized health awareness events in connection with the Arab Health Day under the theme ‘Sustainable Health for All,’ in accordance with the resolutions of the Council of Arab Ministers of Health meeting at its 49th session to call on all Arab Member States and all partners to raise awareness through organizing events. The annual Arab Health Day is observed on September 4 every year with an aim to promote the best health practices and enhance Arab countries' efforts to improve health services and encourage health education.

The Ministry of Health and Prevention (MOHAP) has announced that the World Health Organization (WHO)’s independent High-Level Commission on NCDs has elected H.E. Abdul Rahman Bin Mohammed Al Owais, Minister of Health and Prevention, as a commissioner to represent the Eastern Mediterranean Region. This move complements the UAE’s leadership role in the healthcare sector, and its commitment to combat NCDs in line with the objectives of the UAE National Agenda 2021 and the goals of sustainable development, 2030. Under the patronage H.E. Abdul Rahman Bin Mohammed Al Owais, Minister of Health and Prevention, the WHO Independent High-Level on Commission on NCDs Report was launched at the ministry’s headquarters, with the participation of officials from WHO and other health entities, and members of the National High Committee and the Regional NCD Alliance.

In line with the Ministry of Health and Prevention’s (MOHAP) strategy to promote healthy lifestyles among the UAE communities and reduce the prevalence of diseases, the Ministry's Department of Health Education and Promotion launched a ‘colon cancer awareness and prevention program,’ which began on August 29. The campaign, which is set to last until September 24, 2018, aims to raise health awareness on various types of cancers and learn about screenings and tests for early cancer detection, which in turn will contribute to enhancing the chances of recovery and reducing mortalities related to cancer.