WHO HAILS GULF HEALTHCARE PROGRESS, WARNS ON CHRONIC DISEASE
The World Health Organisation has praised rising levels of healthcare expenditure in the Persian Gulf region, but the UN agency has highlighted shortfalls in the management of chronic diseases.
According to WHO data, Qatar leads the GCC trade bloc's health expenditure league table, spending averaging US$935 per capita. The United Arab Emirates ranked second with a total US$547, with Bahrain at US$514, Saudi Arabia at US$345, and Oman at US$246. Observers have linked much of the recent spending growth to windfall oil revenues and investment, amid attempts to diversify regional economies away from traditional sources of income.
Officials have highlighted the region's shift in mortality linked to acute infectious diseases to chronic conditions, a trend associated with emerging healthcare markets globally. Diabetes is a particularly acute problem in the UAE, with some 20% of all over-20s reporting to be diabetic, compared with a world average of 5%.
Accordingly, the UAE's new healthcare strategy aims to tackle shortfalls in supplies of medicines for major chronic diseases -- also including treatments for hypertension and asthma -- at public healthcare clinics. The privately-owned Dubai Healthcare City is to play a key role in liasing with public health agencies and attempting to reduce red tape, according to government sources.
Upcoming Events
-
02May
-
07May
-
14May
-
23May
-
30May