Merck, a leading science and technology company, inaugurated today its scientific office in the United Arab Emirates, in the presence of His Excellency Dr. Amin Hussein Al Amiri, Assistant Undersecretary for Public Health Policy and Licensing Sector in the Ministry of Health and Prevention, and Dr. Frank Stangenberg-Haverkamp, chairman of the Executive Board and the Family Board of E. Merck KG. The company’s regional hub is located in Central Park Towers, DIFC, and covers the Middle East, Africa, and Turkey region.

H.E. Dr. Amin Al Amiri, Assistant Undersecretary for Public Health Policy and Licensing Sector, Ministry of Health and Prevention (MOHAP), inaugurated the Forbes International Health Forum which serves as a strategic platform for regulators, senior leaders, experts, and investors to discuss the future of the local healthcare sector. In his opening speech, H.E. commanded the exceptional experience of the country which puts in leading positions in the international competitiveness index and led to an increase in healthcare investments and an expansion of the numbers of factories and scientific offices, supported by a regulatory environment inspired by the vision of the wise leaders of the country and the UAE Vision 2021, and aiming at achieving highest quality and standards of care. 

The Ministry of Health and Prevention has issued public warnings on the use of dietary supplements due to their alarming side effects including a sharp drop in blood pressure, anxiety, irritability, nervousness, rapid heartbeat. The ministry also warned against the interaction between some contraceptive medicines and an anti-epileptic. Recently, the Ministry recalled various products for violations and failing to meet the set safety standards, to name a few food supplements which contain salmonella bacteria; drug used to relieve heartburn and acid indigestion, and medical device used as a device managing medical image because of the loss of some images. 

The Ministry of Health and Prevention (MOHAP) has announced its latest national initiative in line with the ‘Year of Zayed’, the first aid and cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) in cooperation with the Federal National Council. The National Initiative for First Aid and CPR, which will train 20,000 people from various sectors of the society will be implemented within four to five years aimed at reducing the causes of death such as cardiac arrest, strokes, and other emergencies. The training is in line with MOHAP’s strategy to provide comprehensive and integrated health care consistent with international standards and ensure the happiness of the society.

The Ministry of Health and Prevention (MOHAP) launched an e-service that allows customers to register complaints and feedback on the services provided by private health facilities and their medical and technical staff, in a move to ensure the quality of these services in accordance with the policies of the Ministry. The initiative complements the Ministry’s strategy to develop electronic services to improve the overall quality of the health system through innovative smart solutions.

Under the patronage of His Excellency Dr. Yousif Al Serkal, Assistant Undersecretary for the Hospitals Sector at Ministry of Health and Prevention and Chairman of the Executive Committee of National Indicators of Cardiovascular Diseases and Cancer, the subcommittee of the National Indicators of Cardiovascular Diseases and Cancer has successfully conducted a meeting aimed at implementing and following up on its programs and activities for the year 2018. The meeting was chaired by Dr. Mona Al Kuwari, Director of the Specialized Healthcare Department, along with other representatives from the Ministry of Health and Prevention, Prime Minister's Office, Mohamed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Humanitarian and Charity Establishment, Health Authorities, Emirates Cardiac Society (ECS) and entities involved in the follow-up of the national indicator functions.