UAE to launch patient-friendly hospitals

During a speech delivered at the two-day meeting held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, which ended yesterday, Al Qutami said, “A specialised AGCC team has been formed to launch the initiative in the UAE in coordination and cooperation with the World Health Organisation’s regional office.”

The minister, who is expected to announce the rules and the criteria of the initiative upon his return, said, “This follows the increasing demand on health services due to the increase in population, coupled with an increase in the cost of services in both government and private sectors.”

He also said cooperation between AGCC countries could provide easier management of these challenges.

Al Qutami also spoke about the various health developments in the region, and highlighted the decrease in mortality among infants and children under five, and the increase in life expectancy in general.

“By next April, the infrastructure of the AGCC Nursing Council will be completed and it will answer the needs of technical cadres for the AGCC countries individually,” he said.

Before the departure of the UAE delegation, Al Qutami said the gathering would review the progress in implementing the health strategies in AGCC member states.

The conference kicked off with a speech the Saudi Minister of Health, Dr Hamad bin Abdullah Al Mani.

Al Mani clarified that joint cooperation in the health sector in AGCC countries was considered a pioneering example for providing comprehensive healthcare for the Gulf citizens.