The Ministry of Health and Prevention has organized a five-day workshop to train emergency officers on how to identify risks and develop action plans for immediate response in case of emergencies.
More than 23 emergency officers concerned with following up on the strategic drug stock in the government and private health sectors in the country took part in the workshop. It was held in cooperation with strategic partners from local health authorities as well as local and international pharmaceutical companies and factories, at the ministry’s headquarters in Dubai.
The participants, who are working in public and private pharmaceutical facilities, were approved as “emergency officers” by the Ministry's Emergency, Crisis, and Disaster Management Center.
Complete Readiness
H.E. Dr Mohammed Salim Al Olama, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Health and Prevention (MoHAP) emphasized that the ministry gives the UAE's strategic drug stock top priority within its strategy and vision to strengthen the nation's effective response capabilities and ensures a high level of preparedness to address health concerns.
"Reinforcing the medical stockpile and educating emergency officers on how to ensure the continuity of providing medical supplies would not only support the efficiency of the health system and the sustainability of its operation in emergency situations but will also promote national drug security and help provide health services to patients in all circumstances,” Al Olama said.
Proactive Plans
For his part, H.E Dr. Amin Hussein Al Amiri, Assistant Under-Secretary for the Health Regulation Sector, MoHAP, stressed the importance of the workshop, noting that it had covered a range of training issues to help emergency responders perfectly carry out their duties. The workshop clarified mechanisms for dealing with risks and emergencies and explained how to create proactive plans that ensure the continuity of patient care by offering a strategic medical stockpile that includes a variety of pharmaceuticals and medical supplies.
Over the course of five days, participants were trained on how to recognize risks, take required precautions to avoid them, and how to create action plans that improve readiness and immediate response when dealing with any emergency. This is to guarantee that there would always be medications and medical supplies available at the state level so that curative and preventative health services could be provided.
Memoranda of Understanding
The workshop was organized following the Ministry's signing of several memoranda of understanding with several local and foreign pharmaceutical manufacturers in the implementation of the Cabinet Resolution No. 39 of 2015 About the strategic medical stockpile. Under these MoU, contracted healthcare facilities and private pharmaceutical institutions are required to appoint an emergency officer to coordinate efforts regarding the medical products included in the strategic medical stockpile.