The UAE Health Council recently held a meeting in Dubai to discuss ways to strengthen cooperation and the integration of health efforts, initiatives, and projects, as well as key health issues and strategic plans, including the standardization of medical licenses for health practitioners, and the establishment of the UAE Center for Disease Prevention and Control and the UAE Food and Drug Center.
The meeting, chaired by His Excellency Abdul Rahman bin Mohamed Al Owais, Minister of Health and Prevention, reviewed the UAE's recent achievements in the health sector, thanks to its wise leadership's support and directives, as well as its eagerness to constantly improve everyone's health and safety.
Al Owais stressed that the UAE's achievements in the health field would not have been possible without the wise leadership's support and directives to maintain everyone's health and safety, coupled with the sincere efforts of health workers.
Representatives from the private medical sector, which is viewed as a strategic partner in the development of the country's healthcare, were also present at the meeting.
The gathering aimed to support the diligent efforts being made by various health entities to achieve national health goals by formulating a futuristic roadmap for the country's health sector based on global health changes and the future of health care services.
Leading projects
The council also reviewed a package of leading projects to upgrade the UAE's health system, in line with the country's plans for the next fifty years, which seek to carefully map out the country's future and lay the foundation for a comprehensive development plan.
Other topics discussed during the meeting include the possibility of creating a unified national contact center during pandemics and health crises, establishing the health cloud, amendments made to the Public Health and Communicable Diseases Law, challenges facing the health insurance sector, and treatment in private medical facilities.
Furthermore, the Council approved a number of decisions to improve the country's health sector efficiency and support coordination and unified work between federal and local health authorities, as well as their strategic partners, where joint committees will be formed to study the initiatives presented to the council.
Preserving national gains
The members of the council reaffirmed their commitment to facilitating the country's journey towards recovery, citing the great strides made in this regard, for which UAE has become a global role model, and adding that they will spare no effort to build on the country's health achievements while preserving national gains through the development of preparedness and proactive plans, and the use of innovative technological solutions and advanced infrastructure.
In keeping with the UAE Centennial Plan 2071, the council stated that all health entities in the country will continue to cooperate to further improve the UAE's global competitiveness and leadership, as well as increase the health system's efficiency in preserving society's health.
Council purviews
Furthermore, the Council is in charge of coordinating work among federal, state, and local institutions and authorities that provide health services across the country and in the private sector. This would ensure their integration in order to enhance medical services, in addition to considering common issues faced by the country's health sector and taking appropriate measures in coordination with relevant authorities.
It is also tasked with reviewing and drafting health-related laws, regulations, and instructions, submitting recommendations to competent authorities, and encouraging scientific studies and research.
The council is also responsible for organizing medical conferences and fora, as well as supporting the Continuous Medical Education Program (CME), in order to aid in the achievement of the goals set by public health policies. This is in addition to coordinating with the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research (MOHESR) to develop academic policy on health and medical science education within the UAE and abroad.