Dubai unveils plans for overhaul of health care services

A host of initiatives is under way to overhaul the medical sector in Dubai and ensure that everyone has quick, affordable and efficient access to health care services. Health insurance for everyone will ensure that both Emiratis and expatriates will be able to afford health care. Careful planning has gone into the Dubai Health Strategy that will bring about changes in the fast growing medical sector over the next two years. A senior official of the Dubai Health Authority (DHA) has promised that things will radically change for the better. "There will be a quantum leap in the level of health care and medical services," said Qadi Al Murooshid, director-general of the DHA. spelling out far-reaching initiatives. Detection measures The plan has gone into action to also control the rapid spread of non-communicable diseases in society such as diabetes, hypertension and obesity, which is putting a huge burden not only on the government but also on families whose members suffer from these lifestyle diseases. Doctors have expressed alarm that a large number of people are becoming incapacitated because of cardiovascular diseases. They say that while some risk factors like genetics cannot be changed, simple changes will give people a better lifestyle, and that is not being done. A senior DHA official said the strategy will ensure that detection measures are put into place to warn people earlier to make a change. There will be household surveys conducted periodically and detailed information gathered. At present a lack of registries of life-threatening conditions like cancer, heart attacks and strokes hamper treatment or follow-up help to patients. The information will include the risk factors to people. The surveys will show how many people suffer from non-communicable diseases, who in the family have been involved in accidents and sustained injuries, and what exactly are the health care needs of people. The private sector is expected to play a large role in bringing improved health care services into fruition and as to what exactly is needed up to the year 2020. Special projects will be launched to fill the gaps in services in areas such as rehabilitation services, fertility and neo-natal care.