UAE’s healthcare market is estimated to touch Dhs44bn ($12bn) by 2015

Over the years, the UAE has witnessed significant expansion in healthcare and wellness facilities, which has put emphasis on the appeal for healthy living. The total healthcare market in the UAE is estimated to touch Dhs44bn ($12bn) by 2015, reported the official news agency WAM. Approximately Dhs11bn ($3bn) of this accounts for wellness products and services sectors.

Leading regional and international companies specializing in Wellness and Spa products and services, will be exhibiting at the Wellness and Spa Middle East exhibition, from June 7-9, 2009 at the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre.

‘An ageing population of baby boomers, and the increasing stress of modern life has created a boom in wellness retreats and spas around the world,’said Ms. Elisabeth Brehl, Managing Director of Epoc Messe Frankfturt, the organizers of the exhibition.

‘Personal wellness is starting to become a lifestyle trend as people seek relaxation and a respite from the pressures of daily life, and activities that cultivate physical, spiritual and mental wellbeing are becoming important to many people in deciding how to spend their leisure time.’ She added, ‘Everyone’s lives have become so busy and overcrowded. A chance to breathe, relax and engage in a renewing activity and environment is becoming vital.’ With the worldwide prevalent trend of wellness retreats and spas all over the world, there are many opportunities for people to participate in wellness tourism from luxury spa weekends and yoga retreats, to Ayurvedic spas that include a spiritually renewing program.

According to research, Americans and Canadians have spent Dhs41.10bn and Dhs4bn on wellness and spas tourism respectively over the last two years. Wellness and anti ageing are a trillion dollar business globally.

Research has shown that the demography of this region is dominated by a young population. Combined with increased spending power, in this affluent society, the lifestyle aspirations of the majority now encompasses healthy body and mind.

In 2008, the twin exhibitions Beautyworld Middle East and Wellness and Spas Middle East, registered an increase of 38% in trade visitors over that of the previous year. The exhibitions attracted 850 exhibitors representing 1,650 brands from 50 countries. In addition 31 country pavilions exhibited, reaffirming Beautyworld’s and Wellness ‘&’ Spas’ roles as the biggest and most authoritative shows of their kind in the Middle East region.

Wellness and Spas Middle East gathers international spa and fitness club operators and professionals, hotel operators as well as architects and designers. It brings the world’s leading manufacturers together to introduce their latest products and equipment from day spa treatment cabins to body toners. It is the most successful showcase in the region for the latest in spa centres and resorts.

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Hotline to guide mothers on breastfeeding

The Department of Health and Medical Services (Dohms) will soon set up a hotline to guide mothers on breastfeeding, according to a health official.

"The ratio of breastfeeding is extremely low among UAE national women in the country. To encourage women to opt for this natural method rather than bottle feeding their babies, we will be providing this facility to them soon," said Dr Fatima Sultan Al Olma, head of the Mother and Babycare Unit at Dohms, explaining the reason behind the need to set up such clinics in the emirate.

She also explained that the hotline was part of the phased implementation of the baby-friendly clinics initiative in PHCs around the emirate.

"The objective of the project is to spread health awareness among mothers about pregnancy, breastfeeding and nutrition suitable for children at different stages of their lives," she said.

The project has already been implemented in Al Bed'a and Al Mamzar clinics in the first stages.

"Before this implementation, the staff at these clinics had to undergo a 20-hour orientation programme so that the clinics could acquire international accreditation as baby-friendly clinics by the World Health Organisation (WHO)," said Dr Fatima.
/Khaleej Times/

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Bringing banned drugs to UAE can land you in jail

Having medicines in your travel bag is second nature to most people, but if you’re not careful, those medicines to relieve a cough or treat painful gastric ulcers can land you in jail.

As signatory to the 1988 UN Convention Against Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances, which enforces two earlier conventions against narcotics and psychotropic substances, the UAE prohibits certain chemicals, and medicines with these chemicals, from entering the country.

Some medicines, which are over-the-counter in other countries, are also considered controlled items in the UAE as they produce effects that contravene local laws.

To bring these medicines in, residents and non-residents alike must have a medical prescription from a UAE-licenced physician. For those who received treatment abroad, they must show a medical report from a doctor detailing their illness and the reason for taking the medicines.

Dr Easa Al Mansouri, director of the Pharmacy and Drug Supply Department at the Ministry of Health, said this was to make sure that the medicines would be used legally. “How can [the customs officer] be sure if [an overseas] prescription is legitimate?” he said.

“If they have a medical report with them, then nobody should stop them,” added Humaid Al Shamsi, assistant undersecretary for pharmaceutical supplies at the ministry.

To be on the safe side, both suggested visitors and residents should forego bringing in the ‘dodgy’ medicine and get a prescription upon arrival in the UAE. However, that might be a problem as many people are unaware of these regulations until they land in trouble.

Although the troublesome medicines are listed in various UAE health websites - there are 365 of them - finding them is a roundabout process.

“There are no warnings posted at the airport. Travel agencies don’t tell us,” said Dr Mohammad Samir, who recently moved to Dubai.

“My friend’s mother was stopped once because she brought in a medicine her doctor prescribed to her in the UK that’s not allowed here,” said Dr Baher Massoud, medical director at a pharmaceutical company.

“It’s very important to know. If we bring a medicine and we don’t know it’s illegal, it may jeopardise [our stay in the UAE],” added Michael Lopez, who recently moved to Dubai from the Philippines.

Banned Drugs

*The UAE has identified a group of drugs with the potential to lead to addiction if not controlled and has prohibited their entry.
For a full list you can visit the UAE ministry of health website

* Many common cold and cough remedies, which you might assume to be harmless, must be accompanied by a prescription. Many of these drugs are available over-the-counter (OTC) in other countries.

* Some sleeping tablets, painkillers, anti-depressants and hormone replacement therapy drugs are banned here.

* Poppy seeds, a common ingredient in dishes in some countries, are illegal her.

* Betel leaves and betel nuts are also banned.

* All kinds of sex stimulants are banned.

* Some controlled drugs according to UAE Federal Law are alfentanil, amphetamine, codeine, fentanyl, ketamine, methadone, methyphenidate and morphine.

* The trade names of some controlled medicines which are registered as medicines in the UAE (i.e. a doctor’s prescription is required) Ketalar, Physeptone, Ritalin, Sosegon, Subutex Ultiva, Abilify, Anexate, Arthrotec, Ativan, Barnetil, Buccastem, Clopixol, Cytotec, 123 Cold, Actifed Compound, Actifed DM, Activelle, Adol Cold, Adol Compound, Adumbran, Akineton, Algaphan, Anafranil, Andriol, Artane, Tussifin with codeine, Unified DM, Vesanoid, Virormone and Zoloft.

Please check with the UAE embassy in your country on prohibited or controlled medicines in the UAE before travelling.

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A Health System the World has been Waiting for!

Eat meat! Don’t eat meat! Drink milk! Don’t drink milk! Carbs are good for you! Carbs will make you fat! Go running! Don’t run do yoga!

The health industry has certainly done a good job of confusing the average consumer to the point of tears on how to lose weight or maintain optimal health… and with scientific backing to prove their claims.

So what is one supposed to do with all of this contradictory, scientifically proven information? Well it is not to sit down with a bowl of your favorite ice cream and just be happy being unfit. The secret is the PIDDDS 3-D Living Circle of Health system.

This is no gimmick. This is the honest truth! With hundreds of cases to back this claim, ALL OF THE CONTRADICTORY INFORMATION IS TRUE!

Yes! But it is just true for certain people depending only on their PIDDDS type!! It is that simple. It is necessary for some people to eat red meat, while others should avoid it like the plague!

And it is all easily spelled out to you in a comprehensive book on how to be regain your body’s initial state of perfection through the 3-D’s of the PIDDDS personal integrated system: Dynamics, Diet and Determination.

Through a unique process of realigning your body’s Dynamics to its intended position, through the proper Diet according to your PIDDDS type and through the Determination to follow through and adapt this as a lifestyle, ALL of your health problems can be improved. Depression, obesity, chronic pain, bed wetting, infertility you name it; can be addressed through PIDDDS… and most of the time through just two treatments.

PIDDDS was developed by Jose Garbe-Vilijn, who was inspired to write this book after a chance meeting with His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Ruler of Dubai. Jose expressed her deepest concerns for the health of UAE citizens and explained that she knew of a way to help, a way that she had developed, which saved her own life. On that day she made a promise to HH to spread the word to the UAE on how they can easily maintain optimum health through a simple process of logic… this promise she has upheld.

Jose suffers from a genetic disorder, which caused her to experience brain bleeding some years ago. Brain bleeding is a condition that kills most of its sufferers, but because of her lifelong quest to devise a system for her optimum health, she saved her own life. The doctors said it was only because of her outstanding diet and way of living, that she was able to make it through.

Jose, a Dubai resident, is happy to bring to you the PIDDDS 3-D Living Circle of Health.
For more information or to set up an interview, contact +971 50 640 8687 or email info@piddds.com.
We wish you health!

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An article on Dr. Azad Moopen

Trust and care is what makes the world so beautiful. When it comes to taking care of your dear and near ones, Dr. Moopen’s group makes sure that you get the best in healthcare. Headquartered in the cosmopolitan city of Dubai, Dr. Moopen’s group is today one of the leading health care providers in the UAE. With a modest beginning in the year 1987 the group has emerged into a large conglomerate comprising of hospitals, diagnostic centres, polyclinics and pharmacies.

Dr. Moopen’s Group currently operates in UAE, Qatar, Oman and India. Their medical centres in Dubai are spread in various prominent places like Bur Dubai, Deira, Karama, Shaikh Zayed Road, Jumeirah, Al Quoz, Al Aweer, Jebel Ali (Gardens) and Dubai Healthcare City(DHCC). They are also setting up medical centres along with pharmacies in Dubai which are at different stages of completion. The first hospital of the group in Dubai was inaugurated at Mankhool and the second hospital of the group was inaugurated at Safa Park area.

“Right from our first step in the journey towards becoming the leading healthcare provider in GCC and India, the cornerstone of out triangle of care has been quality, accessibility and affordability. We believe that healthy individuals make healthy societies and when health comes first everything else follows. We strive tirelessly to bring advanced health care services and products within the easy reach of people we serve and are dedicated to deliver excellence in health care,” says Dr. Moopen, Chairman and Managing Director of Dr. Moopen’s Group.

How did it all begin?
We entered the field of healthcare in 1987 to bring quality medical care within the reach of people at affordable cost. Besides providing state-of-the-art treatment facilities by harnessing the latest medical innovations, our team is guided by the principle that the human touch plays an important role in health care delivery.

Thanks to the encouragement and support rendered to us by the Rulers, Government officials, Business partners and our loyal customers, we are contributing our share to the delivery of health care in the GCC. Our network of Neighbourhood Family Clinics, Medical and Diagnostic Centres and Medshops is being expanded by the addition of inpatient facilities through hospitals. Further we have expanded into the field of Healthcare Consultancy by establishing an office in the Dubai Healthcare City.

What medical facilities do you provide?
In keeping with the concept of total loving care, we started the Neighbourhood Family Clinics-Medcentre—a concept that defines proximity, comprehensiveness and affordability. At these family clinics a professional team of doctors and paramedics cater to the day-to-day healthcare requirements of residential neighbourhoods.

The Medcentres offer consultation services in General medicine, Paediatrics, Gynaecology, Dentistry, Cardiology, Neurology and Endocrinology, along with advanced laboratory and imaging facilities assure access to more sophisticated diagnosis and treatment.

Medshop is a unique pharmacy retail concept driven by the theme ‘much more than medicines’. Designed to be one-stop-shop for healthcare products, Medshop offers quality medical and allied products at the best prices. These customer friendly shops stock a wide variety of cosmetic, nutritional and baby care products. Systematically shelved, they allow easy over-the-counter service. In addition to easy availability of medicines and allied products, medshops have qualified staff who can guide customers on diet, nutrition, medical equipment etc. Making the Medshop concept more popular is the free home delivery service, a website which offers an exhaustive list of medicines and equipment with pricing, a Pharmacist helpline and detailed FAQ.

A network of hospitals with world class healthcare facilities is a part of my Group’s vision for expansion. This vision has become a reality with Al Rafa Hospital, a 20-bed community hospital providing affordable inpatient care for maternity and surgery. The hospital provides round the clock comprehensive obstetric and gynaecology treatment including antenatal and postnatal care with well contained maternity suite sand neonatal ICU. With two modern modular operation theatres and post-operative intensive care beds, the hospital provides surgical services in general and laparoscopic surgery,, urology, orthopaedics and ENT through in-house and visiting specialists and consultants. The hospital allows operating rights to qualified community doctors. Other facilities include laboratory, radiology and imaging services and in-house pharmacy.

What are the future plans?
By 2010, Dubai Healthcare City will become a globally acknowledged location of choice for healthcare and a centre of excellence for specialist medical services, medical education, life science research and technology leveraged healthcare services. My group is proud to be a part of this futuristic vision with its widely acclaimed initiative. Eurohealth Systems—catering to a global audience of professionals by offering a gamut of top-level management services.

Meeting the never ending demands for high calibre personnel with relevant industry exposure poses a significant challenge to modern day healthcare service providers. Our consultancy division—emedhr.com provides solutions to all health care related recruitment needs by carefully analyzing client profiles and requirement specifications—thus ensuring effective human resource management.

Proven expertise coupled with the experience of successfully managing a network of facilities places my group in a position to offer consultancy services to investors in the health care sector.
(By Remediana Dias)

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