UAE Cabinet approves legislation to improve healthcare

Vice President and Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, yesterday directed a number of laws be put in place in order to develop a proper legislative framework for regulating healthcare services provided by the federal government.
Chaired by Sheikh Mohammed, the Cabinet session was held yesterday at the Presidential Palace in the presence of H.H. Lt. General Sheikh Saif bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Interior, and H.H. Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs.
He also instructed the issuance of integrated health advertising system, which aims to control health product advertisements, as well as a number of other legislation related to the health sector.
Sheikh Mohammed said that the healthcare system contributes to the country's development and serves to enhance the UAE's global position, adding that the healthcare is a national priority, and that the government is working to ensure that the legislation and services fulfil the aspirations of the people and consistent with the best standards and practices adopted in this field.
Sheikh Mohammed went on to point out that the UAE's economic growth makes it an incubator for major institutions and enterprises operating in the health and medical field, resulting in the active participation of the private sector as well, in the provision of healthcare, medical services, and medical products, thus enhancing the supervisory and legislature role of the government to ensure the needs of people are met as per the highest medical standards.
The Council of Ministers approved the issuance of the integrated health advertising system, with the aim to control health product advertisements and streamline licensing of the health advertising.
It also endorsed the guide of unified financial procedures of the federal government for 2015, which includes the most important financial and accounting policies and procedures to be followed by the federal authorities when they prepare general budget and the final accounts. This guide is intended to ensure the international standards for the management of financial resources of the federal government as well as enhancement of transparency through policy coordination and upgrading of the efficiency of financial practices and legislation, are implemented.
The Cabinet also approved the audited final account of Etihad Credit Bureau, ended 31st December, 2013.
It approved the accession of the UAE to the membership of the International Transport Forum "ITF", an intergovernmental organisation within the OECD system. Its 54 member countries are committed to tackling transport issues. ITF is also a research and intellectual body that deals with global transport policy issues, and organises annual summit for transport ministers.
The Cabinet also approved the contribution of the United Arab Emirates to the tenth replenishment of the International Fund for Agricultural Development "IFAD" for the period of 2016 - 2018. Headquartered in Rome, IFAD which was established in 1977, focusses exclusively on rural poverty reduction among poor rural populations in developing countries to eliminate poverty, hunger and malnutrition; raise their productivity and incomes; and improve the quality of their lives.
At the regional level, the Cabinet approved a number of agreements such as cooperation and mutual administrative assistance in customs matters between the Government of the United Arab Emirates and the Kingdom of the Netherlands and the Republic of Sri Lanka. It also approved the air transport agreements between the Government of the United Arab Emirates and Mongolia, Latvia and the Socialist Republic of Vietnam respectively.
Source: WAM