DUBAI // The continuing expansion of Rashid Hospital’s trauma unit, more primary care centres and the implementation of electronic medical records are all part of Dubai Health Authority’s ambitious plans for this year.
Huge progress was made last year with the compulsory health insurance scheme a highlight.
But the authority has vowed there would be no let-up with several vital initiatives to be realised this year.
“I hope that we can complete the expansion of Rashid Hospital trauma centre within two years, which is very important as the hospital is serving the whole area and the UAE,” said Essa Al Maidoor, the authority’s director general.
The expansion is to add 160 beds and 116 treatment rooms.
“We will also have electronic medical records before the end of the year, which means wherever you go in Dubai you are given a password and any doctor – whether that be in a private or public hospital – will be able to access your record and add to it. He cannot change it,” said Mr Al Maidoor, on the Dubai smart healthcare model.
“Any medical information will go on that record. It gives the patient total control.
“For example, if you have an allergy or some medication does not fit you and a doctor will try and prescribe that to you, the system will just flag that. It will protect the individual from mistakes.
“The medical records is one of the major things – it will affect the service 100 per cent.”
Mr Al Maidoor has been director general a little over a year. But he has already left his mark on the heath sector in the emirate, having paved the way for new hospitals and more primary healthcare centres.
But perhaps most significantly of all was delivering the long-awaited health insurance-for-all scheme – his personal highlight of last year.
“The health insurance is a big one because it is a vital mechanism which will keep this big engine that we have moving,” he said.
The vision of the Dubai Health Strategy 2013 to 2025, which was published last year, was another highlight, he said.
This strategy aims to turn the emirate into a hub for medical tourism. It includes having hospitals within eight kilometres to 12km of all catchment areas and health centres to be within 3km to 5km.
It also plans for the construction of three new hospitals and 40 primary healthcare centres in the emirate.
“The health strategy has four pillars: buildings and structures such as hospitals; the equipment; the system that we use to operate the hospitals; and the people – the most important resource.”
Doubling the capacity of Dubai’s Diabetic Centre, opening the emirate’s first rehabilitation centre and the launch of the “future health leaders” programme were other key achievements last year, said Mr Al Maidoor.
Over the next year, the DHA also wants to put a focus on establishing more primary healthcare centres to prevent all patients going to hospitals.
“I am trying to create secondary care – 60 to 70 per cent of the operations do not need to be in a hospital,” said Mr Al Maidoor.
“Primary health care is very important. We are going to focus on that and give it more attention. Because prevention and health is much better than correction – you prevent sickness, you save on money and time.”
Along with new medical fitness centres and a revamped Dubai Hospital, health awareness will also play a big part in plans for this year, he said. Building urgent care units to ease pressure on hospitals and more services for the elderly were also important.
“I am looking forward to creating an outlook service especially for the older people,” said Mr Al Maidoor, who wants to establish a mobile outreach programme that will offer a service for older citizens in the comfort of their own homes.
“For senior citizens I also have another idea to create what I call Dubai senior citizen oasis.
“These will be created in some of the parks. We will create an oasis which will also have a medical facility with nurses where people can be brought by the families.
“Work will start on this next year. We do not forgot these senior citizens have done a lot for this country. We must not forget them.”
jbell@thenational.ae
Skewed figures
In the village of Mevagissey in southwest England the housing stock has doubled in the last century while the number of residents is half the historic high. The village's Neighbourhood Development Plan states that 26% of homes are holiday retreats. Prices are high, averaging around £300,000, £50,000 more than the Cornish average of £250,000. The local average wage is £15,458.
The specs
Engine: 2-litre or 3-litre 4Motion all-wheel-drive Power: 250Nm (2-litre); 340 (3-litre) Torque: 450Nm Transmission: 8-speed automatic Starting price: From Dh212,000 On sale: Now
Other acts on the Jazz Garden bill
Sharrie Williams
The American singer is hugely respected in blues circles due to her passionate vocals and songwriting. Born and raised in Michigan, Williams began recording and touring as a teenage gospel singer. Her career took off with the blues band The Wiseguys. Such was the acclaim of their live shows that they toured throughout Europe and in Africa. As a solo artist, Williams has also collaborated with the likes of the late Dizzy Gillespie, Van Morrison and Mavis Staples.
Lin Rountree
An accomplished smooth jazz artist who blends his chilled approach with R‘n’B. Trained at the Duke Ellington School of the Arts in Washington, DC, Rountree formed his own band in 2004. He has also recorded with the likes of Kem, Dwele and Conya Doss. He comes to Dubai on the back of his new single Pass The Groove, from his forthcoming 2018 album Stronger Still, which may follow his five previous solo albums in cracking the top 10 of the US jazz charts.
Anita Williams
Dubai-based singer Anita Williams will open the night with a set of covers and swing, jazz and blues standards that made her an in-demand singer across the emirate. The Irish singer has been performing in Dubai since 2008 at venues such as MusicHall and Voda Bar. Her Jazz Garden appearance is career highlight as she will use the event to perform the original song Big Blue Eyes, the single from her debut solo album, due for release soon.
Sarfira
Director: Sudha Kongara Prasad
Starring: Akshay Kumar, Radhika Madan, Paresh Rawal
Rating: 2/5
SCORES
Multiply Titans 81-2 in 12.1 overs
(Tony de Zorzi, 34)
bt Auckland Aces 80 all out in 16 overs
(Shawn von Borg 4-15, Alfred Mothoa 2-11, Tshepo Moreki 2-16).
Company%20Profile
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In numbers: PKK’s money network in Europe
Germany: PKK collectors typically bring in $18 million in cash a year – amount has trebled since 2010
Revolutionary tax: Investigators say about $2 million a year raised from ‘tax collection’ around Marseille
Extortion: Gunman convicted in 2023 of demanding $10,000 from Kurdish businessman in Stockholm
Drug trade: PKK income claimed by Turkish anti-drugs force in 2024 to be as high as $500 million a year
Denmark: PKK one of two terrorist groups along with Iranian separatists ASMLA to raise “two-digit million amounts”
Contributions: Hundreds of euros expected from typical Kurdish families and thousands from business owners
TV channel: Kurdish Roj TV accounts frozen and went bankrupt after Denmark fined it more than $1 million over PKK links in 2013
Our legal consultant
Name: Dr Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
Company%20Profile
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Formula Middle East Calendar (Formula Regional and Formula 4)
Round 1: January 17-19, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 2: January 22-23, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 3: February 7-9, Dubai Autodrome – Dubai
Round 4: February 14-16, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 5: February 25-27, Jeddah Corniche Circuit – Saudi Arabia
'Cheb%20Khaled'
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SPEC%20SHEET%3A%20APPLE%20M3%20MACBOOK%20AIR%20(13%22)
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Real estate tokenisation project
Dubai launched the pilot phase of its real estate tokenisation project last month.
The initiative focuses on converting real estate assets into digital tokens recorded on blockchain technology and helps in streamlining the process of buying, selling and investing, the Dubai Land Department said.
Dubai’s real estate tokenisation market is projected to reach Dh60 billion ($16.33 billion) by 2033, representing 7 per cent of the emirate’s total property transactions, according to the DLD.
Where to submit a sample
Volunteers of all ages can submit DNA samples at centres across Abu Dhabi, including: Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (Adnec), Biogenix Labs in Masdar City, NMC Royal Hospital in Khalifa City, NMC Royal Medical Centre, Abu Dhabi, NMC Royal Women's Hospital, Bareen International Hospital, Al Towayya in Al Ain, NMC Specialty Hospital, Al Ain
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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THE SPECS
Engine: 3.5-litre V6
Transmission: six-speed manual
Power: 325bhp
Torque: 370Nm
Speed: 0-100km/h 3.9 seconds
Price: Dh230,000
On sale: now
German intelligence warnings
- 2002: "Hezbollah supporters feared becoming a target of security services because of the effects of [9/11] ... discussions on Hezbollah policy moved from mosques into smaller circles in private homes." Supporters in Germany: 800
- 2013: "Financial and logistical support from Germany for Hezbollah in Lebanon supports the armed struggle against Israel ... Hezbollah supporters in Germany hold back from actions that would gain publicity." Supporters in Germany: 950
- 2023: "It must be reckoned with that Hezbollah will continue to plan terrorist actions outside the Middle East against Israel or Israeli interests." Supporters in Germany: 1,250
Source: Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution
Match info
Manchester City 3 (Jesus 22', 50', Sterling 69')
Everton 1 (Calvert-Lewin 65')
Results
6.30pm: The Madjani Stakes (PA) Group 3 Dh175,000 (Dirt) 1,900m
Winner: Aatebat Al Khalediah, Fernando Jara (jockey), Ali Rashid Al Raihe (trainer).
7.05pm: Maiden (TB) Dh165,000 (D) 1,400m
Winner: Down On Da Bayou, Royston Ffrench, Salem bin Ghadayer.
7.40pm: Maiden (TB) Dh165,000 (D) 1,600m
Winner: Dubai Avenue, Fernando Jara, Ali Rashid Al Raihe.
8.15pm: Handicap (TB) Dh190,000 (D) 1,200m
Winner: My Catch, Pat Dobbs, Doug Watson.
8.50pm: Dubai Creek Mile (TB) Listed Dh265,000 (D) 1,600m
Winner: Secret Ambition, Tadhg O’Shea, Satish Seemar.
9.25pm: Handicap (TB) Dh190,000 (D) 1,600m
Winner: Golden Goal, Pat Dobbs, Doug Watson.
The White Lotus: Season three
Creator: Mike White
Starring: Walton Goggins, Jason Isaacs, Natasha Rothwell
Rating: 4.5/5
The specs: 2019 BMW X4
Price, base / as tested: Dh276,675 / Dh346,800
Engine: 3.0-litre turbocharged in-line six-cylinder
Transmission: Eight-speed automatic
Power: 354hp @ 5,500rpm
Torque: 500Nm @ 1,550rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 9.0L / 100km
