H.E Dr. Youssef Mohammed Al Serkal, Assistant Under-Secretary for the Hospitals Sector at Ministry of Health and Prevention (MoHAP), stressed that nursing and midwifery are one of the major and strategic professions in healthcare systems and play a vital role in supporting the comprehensive health coverage. 

The UAE Government has committed itself to provide all forms of support to nursing staff and authorized midwives, and strives to promote the public awareness on the important role of nursing and midwifery all around the world, Al Serkal added.

Al Serkal made his remarks at the launch of the 2nd Emirati Nursing Conference, which has been organized by the Department of Nursing(DON) at the ministry in collaboration with the Training & Development Centre under the theme " “Optimizing Patient Centric care through Innovative Nursing Approach”.

Held under the patronage of H.E. Al Serkal, the conference was organized at the V Hotel Dubai, in the presence of Dr. Sumaya Al Balushi, Director for Nursing Administration at the ministry, and a number of regional and international nursing leaders as well as representatives of the World Health Organization (WHHO), International Council of Nurses (ICN)  and Nursing Now Campaign. Also present were more than 250 local and international nursing staff.

National partnership to emiratize nursing 

While delivering his keynote, Al Serkal expressed his deep trust of the ministry's endeavors to bring about the national agenda goals 2021 in partnership with concerned bodies. 

"We are fully confident that the National Initiative to Boost Attractiveness of Nursing Profession  will result in tangible outcomes most notably, attracting more competent and specialized nursing and midwifery staff, enhancing healthcare services and taking the  nursing and midwifery profession into new heights. Our ultimate goal has always been to maintain and improve the health of citizens and society in the UAE" he said.

Future nursing care services

"Today's conference gives us an important opportunity to exchange and share expertise and knowledge on the latest developments in nursing and midwifery professions. We are also here to anticipate prospective development in the nursing field, in light of  technological progress and professional development" Dr. Sumaya Al Balushi said. 

Besides underpinning the  patient-centered approach, which focuses on enhancing patient satisfaction and participation in treatment decisions, the one-day event will come up with positive recommendations thanks to the participation and expertise of an elite group of regional and international nursing staff, she added.

It will also help participants form a future vision on the strategic importance of nursing and midwifery profession and will boost their readiness for the future. This comes at a time when the health sector is on the threshold of a new era of smart healthcare and innovation, taking advantage of artificial intelligence and automated learning techniques to promote improved health outcomes, Dr. Al Balushi underlined.

6  Nurses / 1000 people 

She reiterated that the ministry's next step is to ensure the provision of 6 nurses for each 1000 people. Currently, there are 336 working nurses in addition to 750 Emiratis nursing students joining various universities and we expect some of them will graduate in November and will be immediately hired. 

It has to be noted that nursing and midwifery professions are based on special basics, information, knowledge and skills. The changing healthcare needs have created unprecedented and new opportunities for nurses and midwives, which helped them play a greater role in developing  future health care policies, Dr. Al Balushi concluded.