Tag Archives: health
MoH strategy to make healthcare world class
MoH strategy to make healthcare world class Staff Reporter / 26 December 2013 The strategy has been developed in response to emerging challenges and progresses achieved in the health sector worldwide. The Ministry of Health (MoH) on Wednesday unveiled the blueprint of its 2014-2016 strategy to make the nation’s healthcare system on par with international standards of quality assurance. The strategy has been developed in response to emerging challenges and progresses achieved in the health sector worldwide. “The ministry gives top priority to the health sector for both locals and residents,” Minister of Health Abdul Rahman Al Owais said at the launch of the initiative in Abu Dhabi. As it seeks to enhance the aspirations of the UAE’s federal government and people, the ministry has to make its establishments and facilities in tune with international standards of quality assurance and progress of services, he added. Awadh Seghayer Al Ketbi, Assistant Undersecretary for Support Services, gave a brief presentation about the strategy. “The ministry’s objectives aim for enhancing and strengthening its health policies, regulations and governance guidance at the federal level. “We also aim at developing and improving the MoH infrastructural facilities and healthcare safety system to counter health hazards, promoting public healthcare standards and raising public healthcare awareness among the community,” he explained. “Plans are being put in place to ensure provision of comprehensive healthcare services, supporting and applying scientific research and healthcare studies, ensuring provision of central administrative services and improving auxiliary support healthcare services,” Al Ketbi added. news@khaleejtimes.com Continue reading
News items promoting tobacco may be banned
News items promoting tobacco may be banned Asma Ali Zain / 26 December 2013 As the January 21 deadline of the implementation of the Anti-Tobacco Law approaches, different organisations and civic bodies are readying to take action against violators. Reinforcement of the Anti-Tobacco Law is off to a smooth start, said a senior health official, and hinted at a ban on news items promoting tobacco use. As the January 21 deadline of the implementation of the Anti-Tobacco Law approaches, different organisations and civic bodies are readying to take action against violators. The executive regulations were approved by His Highness Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, in Cabinet Resolution No. 24 issued on July 21 this year, and will come into effect on January 21, 2014. Dr Wedad Al Maidoor, head of the National Tobacco Control Committee at the Health Ministry said she is in talks with the National Media Council (NMC) to prevent indirect promotion of tobacco through newspaper articles. “According to the law and bylaws, direct or indirect promotion of tobacco is prohibited…and I am in talks with the NMC to put a curb on news articles that appear mostly in Ramadan and (about) Ramadan tents,” she said. She also said the civic bodies, especially the Sharjah Municipality, has already started implementing the law and had recently banned sale of cigarettes in groceries. “Sharjah is the only city in the world that does not have shisha cafes.” “However, the Dubai Municipality needs to be stricter in implementation especially against shisha cafes in some parts of the city,” said Dr Wedad. Talking about the ban on smoking in cars with children under 12, Dr Wedad said that it is the responsibility of the Ministry of Interior to implement this law. “In New York, a person is fined even if caught smoking in a car with only a child seat present,” she added. The law bans any content that advertises tobacco products. Importation of tobacco products that are not in line with technical standards set by the UAE is not allowed and growing or producing tobacco for commercial purposes is also forbidden. Tobacco products cannot be displayed near items marketed for children or sportswear, health, food and electronic products. Tobacco products are also forbidden to be sold within 100 metres of places of worship, and within 150 metres of kindergartens, schools, universities and colleges. Shisha cafes will have to be at least 150 metres away from residential areas and their operational timing will also be restricted. Shisha will not be served to customers younger than 18 years, and the cafes will be forbidden from delivering shishas to apartments. The law also provides specifications on the packaging of tobacco products with a large warning label on the front to raise awareness on the dangers of tobacco. Violators will be fined Dh100,000 to Dh1 million, and the fines can be doubled if the offence is repeated. asmaalizain@khaleejtimes.com Continue reading
Tougher rules for shisha cafes in UAE from 2014
Tougher rules for shisha cafes in UAE from 2014 (Wam) / 27 October 2013 Shisha cafes to be restricted to places 150 metres away from residential buildings and populated neighbourhoods, schools, mosques, and others. Tougher rules related to shisha smoking in cafes and eateries, both public and private, across the country’s Capital will be implemented early next year, in a bid to promote a stop-smoking message. Abu Dhabi Business Centre (ADBC), affiliated to the Department of Economic Development – Abu Dhabi, announced that it would start the application of the Regulations of Federal Law No. (15) of the year 2009 on tobacco control. The announcement came during a joint coordinating meeting between the Department of Economic Development (DED), the Health Authority Abu Dhabi (HAAD), the Department of Municipal Affairs and Abu Dhabi Authority for Tourism and Culture. During the meeting, it was agreed on to determine the time remaining for cafes in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi to adjust their positions until January 31 of next year, calling for the owners of cafes to review the Regulations of the law and the terms contained therein for the exercise of their activity. The new regulations prohibits the exercise of these activities in residential areas not authorised by the department unless only in specific places, 150 metres away from residential buildings and populated neighbourhoods, schools, mosques, and others. The opening hours for cafes have been set from 10am till 12am, and the regulation also stipulates that cafes must not provide water pipe tobacco and tobacco products to those who are under 18 years and prohibits their presence in places providing shisha. The distance between two smokers has also been specified at two square metres. Ahmad Tarish Qubaisi, Acting Director of the Department of Trade Protection at the ADBC, assured that the DED will begin, in cooperation with the relevant authorities, to implement a plan designed to clarify the regulations and conditions contained in the law to cafes and private areas offering smoking-related activities. Qubaisi stressed the necessity of not hiring any commercial sites to exercise the activity of smoking shisha unless approval has been given by ADBC. Violating the provisions of the law amounts to imprisonment for a period of two years and a fine of up to Dh1 million, doubled in case of repetition of the offence, according to the provisions of Articles (13), (14), (15), (16) of the Act. Director of the Department of Environment, Health and Safety in the Department of Municipal Affairs Abdul Rahman Marzouki, said the issuance of Federal Law No. 15 of 2009 on Tobacco Control, aims at promoting a stop-smoking message. Marzouki also said the Department has prevented smoking in each of the malls, men’s and women’s salons, while coordinating with the authorities concerned to implement and enforce the provisions of the Act and the Regulations. Continue reading
