H.E. Abdul Rahman Bin Mohammed Al Owais, Minister of Health and Prevention (MoHAP), stressed that the UAE and Saudi Arabia are the only two countries in the region that provide organ transplant services. Thanks to their constant coordination and cooperation, both countries have achieved milestones in the organ transplantation field, added the minister.
He revealed that there are future plans to connect all organ transplant centres in the region using an online network.The minister made these remarks on the occasion of opening the Human Organs and Tissues Transplantation Centre at Al Qassimi Hospital, Sharjah.
“We have noticed a growing number of people interested in donating their organs in the UAE and we therefore decided to open the Human Organs and Tissues Transplantation Centre in Sharjah”, he further said.
The decision was also taken following the positive results achieved by the ministry’s App “Hayat”, which is linked to national organ donation programme launched by H.H. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai,” Al Owais added.
Legislative Framework
The minister affirmed that the county has put in place a legislative formwork more three years ago to regulate organ transplantation in the country. All health authorities and the Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship have been accordingly connected through a unified system using Blockchain technology.
He emphasised that the UAE has all resources to achieve excellent results in the organ transplantation field including medical cadres and health facilities and partnerships with international bodies. This would not have been possible without the wise leadership’s support and vision, added Al Owais
He underlined that opening organ transplant centres in the country would encourage scientific research in the organ transplantation field, which would turn the UAE into a regional and international hub in this domain.
Sustainable solution
For his part, H.E. Dr. Mohammad Salim Al Olama, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Health and Prevention, stressed the importance of the centre, being the ministry’s first of its kind in the UAE.
The centre was inaugurated in partnership with the Mohammed Bin Rashid University of Medicine and Health Sciences, MBRU, in cooperation with National Program for Organ Transplantation. It is one of tangible results of the program launched in 2018 to regulate transplantation operations, preserve and develop human organs and tissues.
“The inauguration of the centre is yet another milestone in the country’s journey towards excellence and leadership. We are blessed to have what it takes to be a leader in this field including qualified medical cadres, cutting-edge health facilities and partnerships with prestigious international institutions among others,” said Al Olama.
He stressed that the national organ donation programme constitutes a sustainable solution for a large number of patients who would restore hope in a healthier life. The centre will be the UAE’s sixth facility licensed to conduct organ transplant operations. The five others include Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, Sheikh Khalifa Medical City, Mediclinic Dubai and Al Jalila Children's Specialty Hospital and Dubai Hospital, Al Olama added.
Ease burden on Hospital
H.E. Dr. Youssif Al Serkal, Assistant Undersecretary for the Ministry’s Hospitals Sector stated that the opening of this centre is yet another qualitative addition to the ministry’s healthcare services as it would help mitigate the pain of thousands of patients, alleviate the burden on hospitals, cut down financial costs borne by the country and society, and stimulate medical tourism in the country.
He noted that the UAE adopts the best global practices in the field of organ transplantation and provides state-of-the-art infrastructure for health facilities and qualified medical carders to ensure the success of transplantation.
Stimulating medical tourism
Meanwhile, Dr. Amin Hussein Al Amiri, Assistant Under-Secretary for Public Health Policy and Licensing Sector, affirmed that organ transplantation is the only solution to a lot of patients, especially those with heart disease, pulmonary failure, hepatic fibrosis, and kidney failure diseases.
He highlighted the importance of opening other specialised centres for organ transplant in the country so as to stimulate medical tourism and attract new investments. He also stressed the need to open an organ bank and develop a database for people wishing to donate their organs after death.