A deal has been signed between health chiefs and an international chocolate company to carry out the World Health Survey in the UAE.
The Ministry of Health and the Nestle Middle East inked a memorandum of cooperation (MOC) to implement the survey which aims to compile comprehensive information on the health of the local population, news agency WAM reported on Friday.
The survey in UAE is estimated to cost four million dirhams and Nestle Middle East has made a financial contribution of 500,000 dirhams to support the programme.
The survey, which will last until the end of March 2009, will cover 5,000 national and expatriate families.
UAE prescription drug prices are to go under review by the country's health officials. A survey conducted by the Gulf News found prescription drug prices have risen by more than 5% in the last month. Prices for drugs are fixed by the Ministry of Health. Dr Ali Shakar, director-general at the ministry, said the increase in drug prices was due to the currency exchange rate.
Qatar National Health Authority has banned products made by UAE-based PharmaCare FZE and registration of the company was cancelled by the Qatar National Health Authority, Gulf News has cited reports from the Ministry of Health. The products were reported to contain impurities and the Ministry has banned the sale of Carelox, a drug produced by its plant in Jebel Ali.
A deal has been signed between health chiefs and an international chocolate company to carry out the World Health Survey in the UAE.
The Ministry of Health and the Nestle Middle East inked a memorandum of cooperation (MOC) to implement the survey which aims to compile comprehensive information on the health of the local population, news agency WAM reported on Friday.
The survey in UAE is estimated to cost four million dirhams and Nestle Middle East has made a financial contribution of 500,000 dirhams to support the programme.
The survey, which will last until the end of March 2009, will cover 5,000 national and expatriate families.
UAE prescription drug prices are to go under review by the country's health officials. A survey conducted by the Gulf News found prescription drug prices have risen by more than 5% in the last month. Prices for drugs are fixed by the Ministry of Health. Dr Ali Shakar, director-general at the ministry, said the increase in drug prices was due to the currency exchange rate.
Qatar National Health Authority has banned products made by UAE-based PharmaCare FZE and registration of the company was cancelled by the Qatar National Health Authority, Gulf News has cited reports from the Ministry of Health. The products were reported to contain impurities and the Ministry has banned the sale of Carelox, a drug produced by its plant in Jebel Ali.
A new report by the Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry says the UAE's healthcare sector is showing strong growth and is set to attract more foreign direct investments in the near future. The UAE is home to eight pharmaceutical factories with investments reaching $64.2m. Leading players in the pharmaceutical manufacturing business include Globalpharma, Gulf Inject and Medpharma, Neopharma, Pharmacare. With respect to hospitals, the number of hospital beds in Dubai is expected to nearly double last year's capacity, from 2,934 in 2007 to 5,415 in 2010, thanks to the establishment and expansion of nine hospitals in Dubai and nine more at Dubai Healthcare City, reported Gulf News.
Incidence of cancer in the UAE is expected to rise among children and the elderly, a leading oncologist in Dubai has said. Oncologists are already reporting an increase of cancer cases in children and of prostate cancer in men. According to Dr Fareed Khalifa, head of the oncology department at Dubai Hospital, more children were already coming in for diagnosis and treatment.
Beximco Pharmaceuticals, a leading pharmaceutical manufacturer in Bangladesh, will soon become the country's first company to export to the GCC. The company, the country's largest pharmaceutical exporter, has received approval from the health ministries of the GCC. The combined pharmaceutical market of the GCC is valued at more than $4bn. Currently the market is mainly shared by multinational companies in Europe and the US.
Iran has said that there are more than 18,000 registered HIV-positive people in the country, and admitted to fears that the number could rise. Abbas Sedaqat, head of the Ministry of Health's Aids department, said on world Aids Day, that the number of HIV infections was steadily increasing: 'There are 18,320 registered individuals who have tested HIV-positive, but the total number of Iranians infected with the deadly virus is estimated between 70,000 to 100,000.'
About 11.2 percent of Kuwaitis between the ages of 20-65 are diabetic, a health official has revealed.
Speaking on the eve of World Diabetes Day, assistant undersecretary for medical services at the Health Ministry Dr Yousif Al-Nesef said that about 10.8 percent of Kuwaiti men and 11.6 of Kuwaiti women were diabetic.
The number of diabetic cases increases by age and the percentage for men and women between 55-60 has reached 46 percent, state news agency KUNA reported.
Al-Nesef added that there were about 35 percent treating diabetes with insulin while 65 percent were using anti-diabetic pills.
He urged people to be more active, to eat the right food, and to quit bad habits such as smoking in a bid to stave off the illness.
New research claims that diabetes will cost the UAE an estimated 10 billion dirhams ($2.7 billion) by 2020 if action is not taken to tackle the growing problem.
The alarming figure comes in a report initiated by the National Health Insurance Company (Daman) which says that even though diabetes represents only five per cent of their health insurance claims, it was the UAE's biggest health problem, UAE daily Gulf News reported on Wednesday.
Dr Alfons Grabosch, Consultant for disease management at Daman told the paper that an average of 15,000 dirhams is currently spent on diabetes per person a year.
"Everyone who's a payer (patient and government) will end up paying more for diabetic related conditions than ever before if the condition is not tackled immediately," added Grabosch.
According to reports published by the World Health Organisation (WHO) the UAE has the second highest diabetes prevalence in the world with 19.6 per cent of population - with approximately 150 million people worldwide living with the condition and the number is expected to double by 2025.
Dr Cother Hajat, head of Public Health Programmes at the Health Authority Abu Dhabi (HAAD), has also published data showing that the current prevalence among UAE nationals aged 30 to 64 is 29 per cent, of which nearly half are undiagnosed and a further 24 per cent are at risk.
Dr Jad Aoun, chief medical officer at Daman, urged people to stay active, follow a healthy diet and undergo a blood test to test for diabetes as ways of helping to fight the disease.
Abu Dhabi's healthcare spend as a percentage of GDP is set to rise in the coming years, Zaid Al Siksek, CEO of the emirate's health authority told delegates at the MEED Abu Dhabi Conference: 'It is curently at around 4% to 5% of GDP , but I think we can look to see that increase up to 8% or 9%.'
More than a quarter of Bahrainis have developed type 2 or adult-onset diabetes, mainly caused by poor diet and overeating, a health official has revealed.
Twenty-seven percent have developed the illness while more than 1,000 children, aged below 15, have been diagnosed with juvenile type 1 diabetes, Health Ministry assistant under-secretary for training and planning Dr Fawzi Amin said.
"The high number of patients has turned diabetes into a major problem of national scale," he told Gulf Daily News on Friday.
Type 1 diabetes is the second most common chronic disease among children after asthma while type 2 diabetes can lead to blindness, limb amputation, kidney failure, cardiovascular diseases and strokes, he added.
"Diabetes is a major cause for the sharp increase in school drop-outs and low productivity among employees. It also erodes government resources due to the high cost of treatment," he warned.
Bahrain Diabetes Society deputy chairperson Dr Mariam Hermes cited obesity and wrong eating habits as the main causes of juvenile diabetes.
Bahrain will join other countries to mark World Diabetes Day on November 14.
According to statistics released by the World Health Organisation, 250 million people are diabetic, a figures expected to rise to 380 million over the next 20 years.
The UAE Ministry of Health has approved sales of eight anti-retroviral drugs. According to Gulf News the post-exposure prophylaxis drugs, which are only available by prescription, will reduce the chances of infection by approximately 79% if taken within 72 hours after exposure to HIV.
US-based consulting firm McKinsey has said that healthcare spending in the GCC will quadruple to $60bn by 2025 from $15bn currently. Delegates at the MEED Middle East Healthcare conference were told that the UAE would face a particularly acute rise in costs due to its diabetes 'epidemic'.
The new Philadelphia Biological and Medical Product Development Centre is to open today in Amman, Jordan. The Centre will be the only healthcare product development hub worldwide that provides preclinical evaluation, full-service clinical research, core lab facilities, as well as cell engineering and culturing, according to a press release. Peggy Farley, the Centre's Chairperson, said the centre will place the Middle East firmly on the map as a global medical technology leader. Farley is also co-founder of the Ascent Medical Technology Funds, including Fund II which is the financial instrument providing the funding for the project. Recently, the Centre successfully carried out a Bioheart Inc sponsored study to support the treatment of potentially life-threatening, heart-related aliments that saw positive results of a pre-clinical study of the Adipose-Derived Stem Cells (ADSCs) therapy study for heart patients.
Sales of the anti-obesity drug rimonabant have been suspended across the Middle East, after Europe’s top drug watchdog linked the pills with an increased risk of psychiatric problems and suicide.
The European Medicines Agency (EMEA) found patients taking the drug had twice the risk of psychiatric disorders compared to those taking a placebo.
More recent studies showed that, between June and August 2008, there were five suicides among patients taking part in a trial for the medication.
The drug, which is also known as Acomplia, was released to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) market in June of this year.
Dr Hisham Mahmoud, Gulf medical director for sanofi-aventis, the manufacturer of the drug, said all marketing activities for the pills would be terminated following the EMEA’s decision.
“There will be no activities from the company at all until there is a future reevaluation of Acomplia,” he told Medical Times.
“There will be a message sent out to doctors, pharmacists and patients to say the drug is not to be prescribed and no old prescriptions renewed.”
The company has not waited for the UAE’s own drug agency to take a decision on rimonabant, Dr Mahmoud said, in a bid to pre-empt the pills being pulled permanently from the local market.
“We are encouraging the temporary suspension of the drug, but we are really discouraging full withdrawal, because that would mean slashing the registration status of the drug,” he said.
The company met with the UAE’s Ministry of Health yesterday morning, but the agency has not yet released a formal statement.
The EMEA, however, has banned doctors from issuing any new prescriptions for rimonabant and has advised patients to contact their doctor to review their treatment.
It is thought only a small number of UAE patients will be affected, as the drug has only been available in the country for six months.
Rimonabant has been dogged with controversy since its launch.
The medication, which is available in Kuwait, Lebanon and Israel as well as the UAE, was denied approval in the United States last year following concerns over its link to mental health disorders.
Rimonabant was previously touted as sanofi’s next potential blockbuster, having been taken by around 700,000 patients worldwide.
The French drug-makers shares have plummeted following the latest revelations.
Rimonabant sales will be suspended until at least 2010, Dr Mahmoud said, as ongoing clinical trials – giving fresh data on the drug’s use - are not expected to conclude until late 2009, at the earliest.
Sanofi-aventis is hopeful further trials will support the drug’s safety profile and allow marketing to resume. In a statement, the drug-maker reiterated its belief that rimonabant’s benefits to patients outweigh its risks.
The United States will provide an additional $320 million to aid in the fight against bird flu, a US official said on Saturday during an international bird flu conference being held in Egypt.
The US had pledged $629 million last December during a conference in New Delhi that raised $2.7 billion to fight against the avian flu, which the UN says could cause a global crisis.
"The United States is pledging an additional $320 million in international assistance for avian and pandemic influenza," said Paula Dobriansky, US Under Secretary of State for Democracy and Global Affairs told the conference in the Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh.
Dobriansky said she hoped other countries would increase their aid and warned against complacency towards the disease, according to a text of her speech furnished by the US embassy in Cairo.
The H5N1 virus strain first emerged in Asia in 2003 and has since caused some 245 deaths in humans, with Indonesia and Vietnam among the worst hit countries, according to World Health Organisation figures.
Scientists fear that H5N1 will eventually mutate into a form that is much more easily transmissible between humans, triggering a global pandemic.
According to a World Bank report, even a mild flu pandemic might kill 1.4 million people worldwide, while the death toll from a severe global outbreak could reach 70 million.
The report also said a flu pandemic of moderate intensity could cut global gross domestic product by two percent, while a severe flu pandemic would slash global gross domestic product by nearly five percent, or more than $3 trillion.
Ministry of Health (MOH) officials in the UAE have held talks with international pharmaceutical producers in a bid to lower the price of medicines.
Over the past weeks, the ministry held a series of meetings with producers to make safe medicines available in UAE at affordable prices, said Dr Amin Al Amiri, the executive director of Medical Practice and Licensing at the MOH.
Al Amiri added that several pharmaceutical companies have expressed their desire to set up branches in the UAE, news agency WAM reported.
The Ministry of Health is expected to receive new price lists by the end of this year, and from next year prices of medicines will be reduced by 5 to 10 percent, said Al Amiri.
Medical patients across the Gulf are being hit by increasing healthcare fees as hospitals struggle with higher costs sparked by population growth, inflation and rising staff salaries.
Colin Ward, business development manager at insurance firm William Russell told Arabian Business high population growth, particularly among expatriates, coupled with shortages of qualified medical staff means Dubai hospitals are facing the “daunting task” of dealing with an increasing number of patients.
“These factors are driving costs in medical industry up, and can potentially increase the chances of errors in judgment, diagnosis, drug prescription and safety which could put further strain on the existing medical staff,” he said.
In June, consultancy firm McKinsey & Co published a report on the challenges facing the Gulf’s healthcare systems, warning the region was unprepared for a massive rise in demand for healthcare.
According to Ward, pressure to ensure that patients are treated in an appropriate timescale could see medical staff facing longer working hours in a high pressure environment.
This could also lead to non-essential medical procedures such as preventative treatments and wellbeing health checks being overlooked, and there may also be pressure on safety checks, surveillance and cleanliness in many hospitals, he added.
Dr. Ezzat Al-Agamy, network director of Abu Dhabi-based insurance group Daman, said UAE hospitals have been hit by a range of issues which have forced their expenses up.
"Healthcare costs are up this year due to many factors including hiring international staff, higher cost for medical equipment and the general inflation. This increase in costs has led many insurance companies to increase their premiums.”
Daman was attempting to keep premium increases as low as possible by working closely with healthcare providers, Dr Al-Agamy said.
According to McKinsey, demand for treatment in the UAE is expected to rise by 240 percent. The biggest rise in demand will relate to cardiovascular disease and diabetes-related ailments.
The cost of hiring staff is expected to drive up the cost of providing healthcare in the Gulf fivefold by 2025, leaving regional economies with a $60 billion medical bill to pay by 2025.
GlaxoSmithKline is buying the Egyptian mature products business of Bristol-Myers Squibb Co. for $210 million, to extend the British drug company's recent expansion into emerging markets.
The deal "signals our strong commitment to provide quality medicines to patients in Egypt and other countries in the Middle East and North Africa region". Glaxo said on Wednesday.
Glaxo said it will become the leading pharmaceutical company in Egypt with a market share of 9 percent by acquiring 20 branded products in four therapeutic disease areas, including Duricef (antibiotic); Capozide and Capoten (ACE inhibitors); Theragran-H (iron supplement) and Kenacomb (topical steroid).
"I think it's a good move by Glaxo, it's all part of their ongoing strategy... it's minute but it's... an indication that they're prepared to pay up," said Nigel Birks, an analyst at Dresdner Kleinwort.
"It's broadly positive," added WestLB's Simon Mather.
The business being bought generated 2007 sales of $48.5 million. The pharmaceutical market in Egypt is worth $2.1 billion and grew by 19 percent in value last year, Glaxo said.
New Glaxo chief executive Andrew Witty has made emerging markets a priority, a pledge backed up in July by a pioneering deal with South Africa's Aspen Pharmacare Holdings that paved the way for the sale of cheap branded generic medicines in emerging markets.
Private companies are being sought by the government to invest in the Abu Dhabi's health system, it has been revealed.
A total of 50 firms have filed applications to invest in the emirate’s healthcare system but only four of those are expected to progress, UAE daily The National reported on Tuesday.
“Privatisation allows us to depend less on publicly run institutions, which in the past have not been as efficient as possible,” said Zaid al Siksek, chief executive of the Health Authority Abu Dhabi (HAAD), told the paper.
The authority has not specifically said which services it hopes to privatise but it has indicated that contracts would be awarded to companies able to provide facilities ranging from full-service hospitals to home-based care.
The number of cases of childhood diabetes in Qatar has doubled over the past ten years, according to experts.
This is in keeping with the trend worldwide, where diabetes in children is on the rise, but the situation in the Middle East region is critical, the inaugural session of the International Childhood Diabetes and Obesity Conference heard.
Delegates in Doha were told that in 1997, the incidence of childhood diabetes in Qatar was 17.3 in every 100,000.
Studies conducted last year show this has increased to 35 per 100,000, Qatar daily The Peninsula reported on Saturday.
"More alarming is the percentage of children below the age of five years suffering from the disease," Dr Maryam Al Ali, Consultant Pediatrician, Endocrinology, Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC) told the paper.
"There has been a tremendous increase in diabetes in children below five. In 1997, 13.7 percent of the children were found to be diabetic, but now it is 28.2 percent," she said.
Studies have revealed that the incidence of diabetes in Qatar has been rising since 1990.
Last year, Finland led the list of diabetic countries with every 45 person in 100,000 being diabetic.
On Wednesday, it was revealed that the UAE spent $436 million on diabetes-related treatments in 2007.
The UAE currently has the second highest rate of diabetes in the world, with 19.5 percent, or one in five members of the population affected by the disease.
A major link was found between obesity and diabetes. Studies have found that 45 percent of the people in Qatar are obese and 55 percent of the diabetic patients are obese.
Healthcare demand in general will rise 240% in the GCC region over the next 20 years, with health risk factors, ageing, population growth and medical inflation contributing to the increase. This staggering figure was highlighted by Dr Ioan Cleaton-Jones at a GE Healthcare-sponsored media summit held in Dubai in June, entitled: Healthcare in the Middle East - Challenges and Opportunities.
Dr Cleaton-Jones, a Senior Health Specialist in the Health and Education Department of the International Finance Corporation (IFC), a member of the World Bank Group, based in Washington DC, referred to a recent report by McKinsey & Co which projected that along with this increase in spend would be a rise in the number of hospital beds from 68,250 in 2006 to 114,450 by 2015 and 161,750 by 2025.
He said: “High-income countries such as the UAE, Kuwait, and Saudi Arabia spend only 2.2% to 3.4% of GDP on healthcare. In Europe healthcare spend is around 9%-11% of GDP, so we can expect the level of spending to increase in the region as populations grow, people live longer, experience fewer infectious diseases and get more chronic diseases of old age and affluence, such as heart disease, diabetes, and cancer.”
Richard di Benedetto, President and CEO of GE Healthcare, International, EAGM region, said in his keynote address to the summit that healthcare in the region is now a national priority, “10 years ago it wasn’t”.
He noted various emerging trends in the region including the increasing number of healthcare services; the improvement of clinical quality; broadening of public health awareness; and the establishment of sustainable funding mechanisms, such as mandatory health insurance.
“One of the key challenges, however, is the shortage of qualified manpower,” he said. Dr Cleaton-Jones pointed out that generally healthcare spending growth tends to be a bit faster than GDP growth.
“As countries get richer they tend to spend a bigger portion of their GDP on health.”
He gave examples of highincome countries like the US which spends 15.2% of GDP, Japan 8.2% and Germany 10.2%; low income countries like Nigeria spend 3.9% of GDP, India 5% and Bangladesh 2.8%. In the Middle East the UAE spends 2.5%, Saudi Arabia 3.4% and Kuwait 2.2%. The exception is Jordan which spends 10.5% of GDP, he said.
“As these countries move to high income status these percentages will grow,” he said. “Also the proportion of ageing population will grow increasing the health cost burden.”
Source: Arab Health
According to a recent study, population in the Middle East has exceeded 370 million and is estimated to reach over 520 million by 2030. Growing population, mainly dominated by the expatriate community in most of the GCC countries, has given rise to the a rapidly growing market for healthcare and its associated industries, which is now touching US$ 100bn mark in the Middle East alone.
Healthcare markets in the Gulf region are changing quickly. Due to the huge increase in the expatriate population, it is also one of the fastest growing regions with an estimated annual growth of 15 per cent. Business opportunities in the import-dependent marketplace of the five main countries in the region have dramatically increased from where they were a few years ago.
Saudi Arabia, as the richest regional market, has planned to increase the numbers of hospitals from 264 to over 500 in next 7 years. UAE is also setting trends in providing best healthcare standards on public & private level not only for the growing population within the country but also for patients from across the region seeking the best medical facilities. The UAE healthcare market is projected to rise from US$ 3.2bn in 2005 to US$ 11.9bn in 2015.
The market in the Middle East countries, however, is heavily reliant on the fluctuating price of oil, which dictates the strength of the economy and, in turn, reflected in healthcare provision and the pharmaceutical market.
The UAE spent $436 million (1.6 billion dirhams) on diabetes-related treatments in 2007, a huge cost which could easily be prevented, a diabetes researcher said on Wednesday.
Speaking at the launch of a diabetes awareness campaign in Dubai, Dr Prem Jagyasi, healthcare management consultant, told Arabian Business if even a tenth of this expenditure had been invested in prevention, the emirate’s high diabetes rate would decrease significantly.
The UAE currently has the second highest rate of diabetes in the world, with 19.5 percent, or one in five members of the population affected by the disease.
Jagyasi has compiled a report titled Unite for Diabetes 2007, which includes research taken from 7000 checkups in the UAE involving people from 100 different nationalities.
The research found 62% of people were above normal weight, while almost 75% of UAE nationals were above overweight.
“These are very shocking figures, it is very frustrating to see this. I know the government is trying to prevent it, but we should not expect the government to do it all. This is one of most serious diseases in the world, and it’s a silent killer, you won’t know you have it until it is established in your body and by then it’s too late," Jagyasi said.
“Both men and women are at risk of developing Type 2 diabetes if they are overweight. Especially in the GCC countries, the level of physical activity is affected by the climate and a growing dependency on cars. The problem is aggravated by people consuming high-fat, high energy food which causes an abnormal increase of blood sugar,” he said.
Jagyasi said the average annual cost of treatment in 2007 was $993 for each person with diabetes, while the UAE’s expenditure on diabetes-related treatment is expected rise to $1 billion by 2025.
Jagyasi is involved in the awareness and fund-raising campaign with Jebel Ali Hospital and IBN Battuta Mall, in a bid to boost knowledge in the run-up to World Diabetes Day on November 14.
Kuwait-based Gulf Investment House has announced that it has abandoned plans to develop a $1bn Healthcare City 100 km outside of Muscat, MEED has reported. The company did not say why the plans for the mixed use development, which was to have included medical colleges, hospitals and hotels, were dropped.
Saudi Arabia is to privatise large parts of its healthcare sector in a bid to meet demand and raise the standard of treatment, a senior government official has said.
Dr Manar Al-Moneef, director general of healthcare and life sciences at the Saudi Arabian General Investment Authority (SAGIA), said there are plans to privatise or outsource the management of 218 government-owned hospitals, the UK's Financial Times reported on Wednesday.
Al-Moneef also said another 2,000 planned hospitals and clinics are to be put under the administration of a fund overseen by the health ministry. He said these would also be either privatised or their management outsourced.
He said the government was planning "a massive overhaul with many opportunities to build a leading competitive sector".
Al-Moneef said the government currently finances three-quarters of the healthcare sector, which he described as “unsustainable" given population growth and spiralling healthcare costs.
Cardiovascular diseases account for 31.4% of deaths in Dubai and 28% of deaths in the UAE, say health experts on the occasion of World Heart Day, which is being observed today. Citing a recent study they say that patients with heart diseases in the UAE could significantly reduce the risk of suffering a first cardiovascular event. The study was published in the New England Journal of Medicine. The results of the five-year Treating to New Targets study showed that patients with established heart disease who were prescribed larger doses of the drug 'atorvastatin calcium' reduced the relative risk of suffering a first cardiovascular event by 19%. The drug also provided a sustained reduction in the risk of a subsequent second, third, fourth, and fifth cardiovascular events.
The Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan Charitable and Humanitarian Foundation said it has finalized the construction of the buildings of new Sheikh Zayed Maternity & Children's Hospital in Sana'a, Yemen, WAM has reported. The hospital is a 130-bed and 7-ward hospital, valued at $6.4m.
by Tom Arnold, ArabianBusiness.Com
As many as 40 percent of children in Qatar are suffering from diabetes with the number of new sufferers increasing each year, a new study has found.
Dr Abdullah Al Hamaq, executive director of Qatar Diabetes Association (QDA), said globally 500,000 children under the age of 15 had type 1 diabetes, while in Qatar 40 percent of children were suffering from diabetes 1 and 2, Qatar daily The Peninsula reported on Sunday.
"Lifestyle is the main reason for this alarming rise of childhood diabetes," Sharoud A Matthis, programme manager of QDA told the newspaper. "Unhealthy food habits, less exercise and also sometimes presence of a genetic factor all propel diabetes in the young.”
An international three-day conference to address the problem of diabetes and obesity in children has been organised by the QDA in collaboration with Detroit Medical Centre, Children’s Hospital of Michigan (USA) and the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) from Oct. 10 to 12 at the Doha Sheraton Hotel.
More than $3.425m has been raised to benefit cancer patients in a national campaign organised in Yemen, reported Gulf News. The funds raised in the campaign, titled 'There is Always Hope for Life', will help treat about 50 patients. About 360,000 people in Yemen have cancer, statistics show.
Tatweer, a Dubai government-owned investment entity, said it will establish a Dh3.68 billion ($1 billion) Dubai Wellness Resort in phase two of Dubai Healthcare City (DHCC).
Tatweer's new initiative adds its investments in DHCC to a total of Dh12.5 billion, underpinning its profound support of delivering quality healthcare services, while driving the growth of life-improving industries across the region.
DHCC has so far attracted Dh15 billion ($4 billion) of additional investments from its partners, bringing the overall investments in DHCC to Dh27.5 billion ($7.3 billion).
Situated alongside the Dubai Creek, within DHCC's Wellness Cluster, the resort will serve as a premier location for preventative and integrative medicine, and for promoting health-enhancing lifestyles in the region.
The Dubai Wellness Resort will include a rejuvenation centre for cosmetic services; healing and health-centre for integrated medical services; active-lifestyle centre as sports medicine facility, and healthy-living residences for eco-friendly living. It will also encompass a healthy-lifestyle retail district in the town centre and seven-star luxury hotels.
Faced with increasing threats from angry patients and their relatives, doctors in Bahrain will now undergo self-defence training.
The programme to help doctors enhance their aptitudes at defending themselves against assailants has been suggested by the Bahrain Medical Society, but no date was given for its implementation.
The numbers of tourists visiting the UAE for medical procedures are set to soar, as the nation develops the infrastructure required for health tourism, the Ministry of Health has announced.
Globally, health tourism is estimated to be worth $50 billion annually, with a range of developing nations spearheading a trend of offering cheap healthcare to foreign visitors.
Nasser Khalifa Al-Budoor, assistant undersecretary for International Relations and Health Affairs at the UAE Ministry of Health, said the UAE will soon start receiving medical tourists and their families for plastic surgeries, knee replacements or cardiovascular disease care.
One of Britain's leading hospitals has made more than $8 million by giving livers from UK donors to private foreign patients in the Gulf.
Over the past five years, surgeons from King's College Hospital in South London have performed 50 liver transplants, with each patient paying around $160,000, almost half of whom were from the UAE and Kuwait, the Mail on Sunday reported.
At least one foreign government is now monitoring the progress of its patients amid fears they are being given inferior organs, the newspaper said, without saying where it got the information.
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Under UK law, British-donated livers can only be given to non-EU private patients if the organs have already been turned down for those on UK and EU waiting lists because of problems with their age or size.
Sexual performance enhancing drug Viapro has been pulled from chemists' shelves in the UAE after it was discovered an undeclared ingredient can lower blood pressure to dangerous levels if combined with certain prescription drugs.
US-based manufacturer EG Labs is voluntarily recalling all lots of Viapro sold in 375mg capsules in cooperation with the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), prompting a similar move by authorities in the Gulf state.
An FDA analysis of a sample from one lot of the product revealed that it contained thiomethisosildenafil, which could harmfully interact with nitrates found in drugs for diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol or heart disease.
Arab News
Saudi represents 65 percent of the $2.7 billion GCC pharmaceutical market, Pharma World Holdings — the first 3PL provider within the GCC — said yesterday.
Of the $1.7 billion Saudi market, therapeutic classes make up 80 percent, with systematic hormones making up $291 million, Alimentary T & metabolism represent $260 million, respiratory system comprises $162 million, G.U. system & sex hormones make up $145 million, nervous system covers $128 million, cardio system makes up $121 million and musculo-skeletal system constitutes $111 million, Pharma World said in a statement.
Maher Kheder, business development group director, Pharma World Holdings, said: “These figures only represent the private market, excluding tender business, very encouraging for manufacturers looking to get into the area.”
“Imports represent 80-85 percent of the Saudi market, which is growing astronomically. The beauty of the Pharma World Holdings business model is that it allows manufacturers to enjoy better distribution, with less administration and more cost efficiency, it’s win-win,” he added. The newly established firm brings a track record of Kingdom-specific expertise to the region being a 50/50 venture between Banaja International Group and UAE-based Ithmar Capital Fund I.
Kheder further said “the traditional model of distribution meant foreign manufacturers would supply products through distributors who place and receive orders directly from principal manufacturing facilities.”
“This model lacks flexibility and efficiency for principals and means that they need to find a distributor with excellent regional knowledge to optimize the process. Pharma world aims to bridge this gap between global manufactures and Saudi health care organizations,” he added.
Pharma World Holdings is establishing a distribution and warehousing hub at the JAFZA free zone, just outside of Dubai, which will offer logistical services never before seen in the region. It provides a one-stop 3PL offering for international as well as local manufacturers.
Additionally, the company can handle the return inventory levels and provide outsourcing support for all distribution associated requirements.
Francis Kagolo
New Vision (Kampala)
THE first Ugandan-made Anti-Retroviral (ARV) drugs are now on sale in the country.
Emmanuel Katongole, the chief executive of Quality Chemical Industries, a pharmaceutical company manufacturing the drug, said yesterday the Luzira-based factory produces 60 million tablets everyday.
"In Uganda, there are about 300,000 HIV/AIDS patients who require ARVS. The 60 million tablets we make everyday is a good beginning," he observed, adding that they had capacity to expand production very soon.
Smiths Medical has opened a branch at the Dubai Airport Free Zone. The company aims to leverage on Dafza's facilities for its time-sensitive shipments of medical devices used during critical and intensive care, surgery, post-operative care during recovery, and in a series of high-end home infusion therapies.
Eye care is not the only healthcare topic under discussion in Dubai this November. Physicians and healthcare professionals will unite at the Dubai Congress on Anti-Aging and Aesthetic Medicine (DCAAAM) from November 7th-9th to share their expertise and research into age-related diseases.
With over 70 internationally renowned medical practitioners expected to attend the event, illnesses such as Alzheimer's, diabetes, cancer and heart disease will be assessed together with the means for detection, prevention, treatment and reversal.
While anti-aging events are well-established on the healthcare agendas of other international cities, this is the first time such an event has taken place in Dubai. The congress, which will be held at Dubai World Trade Centre, is organised by Tarsus and The American Academy of Anti-Aging Medicine (A4M).
The United Arab Emirates may cuts ties with the Arab Board of Medical Specialisations, after news Abu Dhabi is to spearhead a move towards an independent medical board.
A five-year plan by Health Authority Abu Dhabi (HA-AD) is tasked with developing existing specialist training programmes, and encouraging more Emirati doctors into postgraduate education.
The ultimate aim is to form an independent medical board to oversee training. This would reduce dependency on foreign medical authorities, and offer better opportunities to local doctors, who currently pursue specialist training abroad.
Dr Maysoon al Karam, the head of post-graduate education for HA-AD, said the Authority would begin by funding more internships in areas such as general surgery and paediatrics. "We need specialties. We need to be sufficient."
HAAD has said it intends to secure a 10% increase in the number of Emirati doctors in the next two years.
Dr Murray Van Dyke, chairman of the department of emergency medicine at Sheikh Khalifa Medical City (SKMC), applauded the move, but cautioned that the training schemes must match international standards.
"The value of any organisation would depend on how much attention and resources they are willing to put into it, and how high a quality the certifying board can make it."
Currently, only Abu Dhabi and Dubai offer internships to graduate doctors. The training schemes work independently, but market rumours have suggested HA-AD and Dubai Health Authority may join forces if a sovereign medical board is established.
Dr Van Dyke, however, questioned whether a locally-run training scheme might prove too narrow for doctors.
"People go abroad for additional training but many come back too. It doesn't represent a real brain drain - in fact it represents a bonus situation because [the UAE] gets well-trained doctors."
The price of some medicines in the United Arab Emirates will soar by as much as 21% in a bid to offset rising inflation rates, the Ministry of Health (MoH) has revealed.
An estimated 600 European manufactured drugs targeting non-chronic conditions will rise by about 21.4%.
Another 530 medications for chronic diseases, including diabetes and hypertension, will rise in price by about 5.85%.
The Ministry hopes to appease European drug firms who had lobbied for a bigger 36% price hike, blaming high import costs caused by the rising strength of the Euro against the dirham.
The decision was a compromise to ensure essential therapies remained affordable, said Minister of Health Humaid Mohammed Obaid Al Qutami.
"Economic changes occurring around the world have made a new drug policy essential...our concern was ensuring affordable treatment to people with chronic diseases."
However, a source from French drug maker sanofi-aventis said pharmaceutical firms were haggling to further hike the cost of chronic therapies, arguing the 5.85% price fails to offset import costs.
The industry is in new talks with the Ministry and a further increase is likely to be announced, the source said.
The news marks the first climb in drug prices since 2005, when the value of the Euro was AED4.3. Previously, patients were unaffected by currency fluctuations as price caps enforced by the MoH held medicine costs steady.
But the currency gap has created drug shortages, as agents have been unwilling to lose up to 20% of drug prices on shipping costs.
Drug cost caps will now be reviewed on a bi-annual basis.
Anne Mugisa and Nuliat Nakiwala, New Vision (Kampala)
The health ministry is to spend at least $6m (about sh10b) on an emergency response to contain the escalating Hepatitis E disease mainly ravaging three districts in northern Uganda.
The minister, Dr. Stephen Mallinga, yesterday told journalists at the Media Centre in Kampala that the money was provided by the Government and donors. The affected districts are Kitgum, Pader and Gulu.
The highly infectious viral disease, Mallinga noted, had infected 5,779 people, 97 of whom had died since it was first reported late last year.
Most of the dead, he added, were expectant mothers and children.
The response to be undertaken by the health and water ministries is aimed at breaking the transmission chain at individual and household levels.
Mallinga said the activities would focus on hygiene education for behaviour change and improving sanitation through constructing latrines in internally displaced peoples' camps.
"We shall also provide digging tools for latrines and slabs to households, while the water ministry will sink boreholes in the return and transit sites for the displaced people," he explained.
Chlorine tablets for water purification and jerrycans for storing drinking water would be provided to households, the minister added.
"Urban centres are also at risk of getting the disease because of poor hygiene, especially in slum areas," Mallinga said, adding that someone imported the disease from Sudan.
The ministry and its partners, he said, would strengthen early disease detection and reporting by village health teams and communities as well as adequately stock health centres with drugs and hire more medical staff.
Hepatitis E is mainly transmitted by eating food and taking drinks contaminated with the feaces of an infected person.
Water state minister Jennifer Namuyangu noted that only 14% of Ugandans wash their hands before preparing or eating meals, while just 6% of breast-feeding mothers wash hands before suckling babies.
Mahmoud Ahmed | Arab News
DJIBOUTI: Prime Minister of Djibouti Dilita Muhammad Dilita and officials from Al-Noor Holding Company of Tariq Binladen attended launch ceremony on Monday to establish 2 industrial cities — one in Yemen and the other in Djibouti — which will be linked by a road and rail bridge across the Red Sea.
The two cities are to be built at a cost of $200 billion and will be the first physical connection between Africa and the Middle East since the opening of the Suez Canal in 1869.
The so-called “Bridge of the Horns” promises to be one of the great engineering feats of recent times linking Yemen to the island of Perim in the Red Sea, and on to Djibouti in Africa.
The ceremony was held at Kempinski Hotel here and was attended by official delegations from 19 countries. The Al-Noor Holding Company is undertaking the giant project for which it has so far collected $50 billion from investors in Saudi Arabia, Gulf countries, Europe and China.
“The realization of this dream began the day the project contract was signed between President of Djibouti Ismail Omer Jeelah and Tariq Binladen,” Al-Noor Holding Company said in a statement, adding that the project will make engineering history, and boost the future prosperity of emerging economies in Africa and the Middle East.
Tariq Binladen said the project will provide more than a million job opportunities in Yemen and half a million in Djibouti.
Under the project, one Al-Noor city will be established in Yemen on an area of 1,500 sq. kms and another city bearing the same name in Djibouti on 1,000 sq. kms. The two twin cities will be linked by a bridge that will be able to carry a six-lane highway and four light rail lines, as well as water and oil pipelines. According to Muhammad Ahmed Al-Ahmed, CEO of Al-Noor Holding Company, the bridge will be 28.5 kms long, comprising of girder and suspension bridge structures. “The suspension portion of the bridge will be the longest in the world. It is anticipated that about 100,000 cars and 50,000 rail passengers will cross the bridge daily in addition to thousands of tons of cargo in trucks and rail wagons,” he added. “Having developed the business plan and master-plans for the two cities and the bridge, we’re now ready to talk to potential investors about the opportunities that exist within this ground-breaking project,” he added. Al-Noor cities project has indicated the initial phase of planning is complete and agreements are in place with the Yemeni and Djibouti governments to commence investment discussions with institutional investors, private investors, corporations and governments, he added.
“We’re interested in developing many forms of investments including the early stage where the potential for capital growth exists until operational ramp-up,” Al-Ahmed said, adding, “for investors, there are many options and investment vehicles we will consider related to the project; not just in the two cities, but also in the related infrastructure.” The Red Sea is one of the busiest and most important seaways in the world and is also one of the most dangerous due to the great irregularity and complexity of water currents.
Ship traffic primarily travels north or south currently; getting resources and people east or west across this constant traffic by ship would be close to impossible and treacherous. The bridge will also allow much greater speed of transit, and more cargo and people to be transported from one point to another.
The characteristics being designed into the cities will ensure they rival some of the major trade, financial, business and tourism hubs of the world. The urban planning will consider the synergy of each district to its neighbor making ease of business and travel cornerstones of each city’s heartbeat.
The geographical location of the cities in Djibouti and Yemen make them obvious trade and distribution hubs that will link major trade routes through Africa, the Middle East and beyond. As in any major urban infrastructure development, the Al-Noor cities will house all the services essential to a modern, hi-tech, connected metropolis.
Aside from essential services, the project will also feature free trade zones, research and development campuses, technology parks, financial districts and major commercial and business districts to house the worlds leading commercial entities. The cities will also house some finest educational institutions, leading-edge medical facilities and high end tourism attractions making the cities compelling destinations in what will soon be the most dynamic markets in the world.
“The goal of the Al-Noor cities project is to create globally integrated cities bridging two continents that deliver a major shift in not just the economies of Yemen and Djibouti, but the regional economy of the Middle East and Africa. These two city developments, linked by a bridge across the Red Sea, will be the catalyst for economic growth for generations to come,” Al-Ahmed concluded.
Eight health officials in Jeddah have been accused of taking bribes from 13 Saudi and foreign businessmen.
The bribes were allegedly taken for granting licenses to open new pharmacies or shifting them to other places or transferring their ownership to other investors, Arab News reported on Wednesday.
Under Saudi law, government officials convicted of accepting bribes could be jailed for up to 10 years and fined SR500,000.
Daliah Merzaban | Reuters
DUBAI: The combined size of Gulf Arab economies will surge past $1 trillion this year on an oil price windfall, while non-oil sectors underpin real growth above 5 percent across the region, a Reuters poll showed yesterday.
The nominal GDP of Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and four other Gulf oil producers will mushroom by almost a third this year to $1.08 trillion from $821.1 billion in 2007, according to the poll of 14 economists. That reflects a more than tripling in nominal gross domestic product since 2002 in the world’s biggest oil-exporting region.
All Gulf state economies are set to grow by more than 5 percent in real terms this year as bumper revenues from a more than six-fold rise in oil prices since 2002 supports industry, construction and finance, median forecasts from the poll showed. “This is nothing short of a transformation of the region,” said Giyas Gokkent, head of research at National Bank of Abu Dhabi, who took part in the July 20-27 poll. “The catalyst of all the activities we are seeing around us, the seed is the energy boom.”
Growth in Saudi Arabia should accelerate to 5.8 percent this year from 3.4 percent last year as the world’s biggest oil exporter and OPEC’s largest producer ramps up output, the poll showed. At 11.6 percent, real growth will probably be fastest in Qatar, the world’s biggest exporter of liquefied natural gas, the poll showed. That compares with growth of 8.5 percent last year, while GDP is seen growing by 11.2 percent in 2009.
On its own, Saudi Arabia has boosted oil output since May to cool down oil prices as they scaled record levels above $140 a barrel this month. “The Gulf is bucking a global slowdown,” said Hany Genena, senior economist at Gulf Finance House. “The economies have been resilient because of high oil prices. They’ve settled domestic debt and accumulated reserves and have the power to weather shocks over the next three years.”
The Gulf’s total crude export revenues, including Qatar’s natural gas exports, will surge 65.3 percent to $660.1 billion this year — a near six-fold rise from $115 billion in 2002, economists said.
Wary of relying on an oil boom alone to support their economies, Gulf Arab governments have invested windfalls into economic diversification. Investment in real estate, finance and infrastructure is spurring growth in the UAE, where the second-largest Arab economy will probably expand 8.4 percent in 2008 before slowing to 7 percent next year, the poll showed. “Industrial growth will be the mainstay of overall expansion, as investment in manufacturing and heavy industrial projects brings new capacity on-stream,” said Economist Intelligence Unit economist David Butter. “The competitiveness of the UAE’s non-oil exports should also be bolstered by the weakness of the dollar.” Kuwait’s economy should expand 5.8 percent this year and 4.4 percent next year — compared with 4.6 percent growth in 2007 — but the economy is too reliant on crude revenues, economists said.
The world’s seventh-largest oil exporter said this year it would undertake a five-year plan to diversify away from oil by focusing on finance and attracting foreign investments.
All Gulf states, bar Kuwait, peg their currencies to the ailing dollar, which hit a record trough against the euro earlier this month, driving up import costs and stoking inflation to record and near-record peaks. A Reuters poll in May showed economists expect inflation to average at least 9 percent in five of the six Gulf states this year — the big cloud hanging over astounding regional growth.
Economists, meanwhile, expect economic growth to slow across the region in 2009, although remaining above 5 percent. Beyond 2009, the health of a US economy reeling from a credit crisis will play a role in the region’s growth, they said. Oman’s economy is forecast to expand 6.2 percent this year before growth slows to 5.5 percent in 2009, while Bahrain’s GDP will grow 6.5 percent this year before easing to 6.2 percent in 2009, the poll showed.
According to Pharma World Holdings, shortage of medicines in Qatar is due to lack of logistic capabilities among local distributors that are heavily relied upon by international manufacturers. Pharma World said it is the lack of tools, training, financial backbone or updated software infrastructure to handle ever-increasing logistics requirements, wherein many small distributors do not have the capacity to invest.
Ibrahim Tarawallie, Concord Times (Freetown)
Plans are underway to upgrade the skills of doctors and community health officers on emergency and essential surgical care.
The training would be facilitated by the World Health Organization (WHO) emergency and essential surgical care project clinical procedures unit, department of essential health technologies.
The session would bring specialists from the United States that would develop a programme on hernia repair, universal precautions, caesarian section, general surgical skills, orthopedic surgery, obstetric and anesthesia among others geared towards upgrading the skills of Sierra Leonean doctors.
Speaking during a courtesy call on the health and sanitation minister Dr. Soccoh Kabia at his Youyi building office the visiting WHO official from Geneva Dr Meena Nathan Cherian underscored the importance of the training, adding that it would be in conformity with WHO standard guidelines.
She said the training would also help to identify gaps in the provision of health facilities with a view to strengthening the health sector.
"The training, which is expected to target tertiary and peripheral health unit services in the four districts including western area, has in its modules the implementation of best practice, HIV/AIDS prevention, sterilised equipment, check list of safety, trauma care, and other important areas relating to the achievement of the MDG's goals," she said.
Country representative for WHO Dr Wondimagegnehu Alemu said the critical aspect of the training would be from minor to complicated surgery.
Health and sanitation minister Dr. Kabia stressed on the need for a mobile surgical unit to ensure that the skills are appropriately implemented to enhance surgical success across the country.
Shaun Benton, BuaNews (Tshwane)
A new agency with the powers to regulate all medicines and health products in South Africa, including health foods and cosmetics with medicinal claims has been proposed by the Department of Health.
The proposal for the establishment of the South African Health Products Regulatory Authority is contained in the Medicines and Related Substances Amendment Bill.
The department's Director General Thami Mseleku briefed members of the Portfolio Committee on Health in Parliament on Tuesday.
The department would like to set up a new agency that will incorporate the work of the Medicines Control Council but have a broader mandate and be run on business principles.
It will be allowed to recruit skilled medical experts at market-related salaries, said Mr Mseleku on Tuesday.
Mr Mseleku also briefed the Portfolio Committee on the review of the Medicines Control Council (MCC), which is nominally independent although its members are appointed by the Minister of Health Manto Tshabalala-Msimang and the Medicines Regulatory Affairs, which falls under the department.
The review was conducted following complaints about the efficiency and outputs of the MCC such as lengthy timeframes for approving drugs and the disjointed operational systems of both the MCC and the MRA.
The department conducted the review with a view to update the MCC too, which was conceived in 1965.
The new agency "by and large" incorporates recommendations made by the Parliamentary Committee, but deviates in certain respects. The body will largely fall under the control of the department, rather than be a state-owned company, said Mr Mseleku.
The South African Health Products Regulatory Authority (SAHPRA) will have the power and be mandated to evaluate all medicines, medical devices, and other health products with medicines or medical content for efficacy, safety and quality.
It will also evaluate all blood derived products used for medicinal purposes, certify all of the above, as well as authorise the conduct of clinical trials, be they human and animal.
Another role for the SAHPRA will be to conduct post-marketing surveillance of medicines, as well as, said Mr Mseleku, to conduct "pharmacovigilance" - keeping a watch on pharmaceutical products.
The body will not however be concerned with marketing issues, but will focus on the scientific side of medicines and be responsible for their approval, certification and regulation, the Director General said.
Rather, SAHPRA will be an overarching regulatory authority for all health products, be they for humans or animals and will be run as an agency with the goal of a 50 per cent cost recovery in terms of its operations, and will retain revenue from fees.
While it will need money from the government to start up, it will be run on business principles, with good governance central to its daily operations, and be headed by a Chief Executive Officer and be accountable to the Ministry of Health.
Mr Mseleku told MPs he believed that there was little that was controversial about the Bill, and that most of the new legislation establishing the agency was supported by previous work done by the Parliamentary Committee.
"At the end of the day, our belief is that there are not many controversial issues relating to this Bill," Mr Mseleku told MPs.
Apart from being responsible for evaluating the safety, quality and efficacy of medicines, the proposed agency will also have the function of licensing manufacturers of drugs, wholesalers and distributors, and will have a "relationship" with the Patents Office, which is responsible for patenting new medicines.
According to the Medicines and Related Substances Amendment Bill, the new authority will also look at the safety of foodstuffs and cosmetics which have medicinal components, or which make medicinal claims.
The powers of the new authority will be broad, and will include the registration of veterinary medicines and other animal health products.
Godwin Haruna
Lagos
The company, Neros Pharmaceuticals, is not new to the drug sector in the country. After years of operations in the marketing of over 71 pharmaceutical brands in the country, the company has decided to chart a new course for itself in the coming years. To be reckoned with among big time players, the company's management has decided to shift its corporate headquarters to highbrow Victoria Island on Akin Adesola. This will be officially done in two days' time. Officials say the new head office location is expected to further enhance the company's corporate image, improve its operations and processes in a bid to attain the goal of becoming one of the nation's best pharmaceutical organisations.
However, the biggest news coming from Neros Pharmaceuticals Limited is that the firm is set to go into the manufacture of drugs in the country as from next year. Speaking to a select team of journalists in Lagos last week, the management team comprising of Mr. Peter Okiye, head of operations, Rotimi Olorunsola, marketing manager and Kingsley Goodman, product manager, revealed that the firm is building an ultra-modern factory in Ota, Ogun State for the manufacture of drugs.
According to Okiye, the high standards set for the factory is such that after the certification of the National Agency for Food, Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), they will stiff seek the certification of the United States FDA and World Health Organisation. He stated that the type of factory envisaged by the Chairman of the company, Chief Poly Emenike, was one that would not only engage in drug manufacture for local consumption, but for exports to different parts of the world. For this reason, he said everything would be done to meet all required specifications for an internationally certified factory. He said their foray into the world market is a vision that would hopefully transform Neros Pharmaceuticals Limited into a publicly quoted company in the Stock Exchange.
He said the chairman of the company is impressed that work on the company's ultra-modern production facility has reached advanced stage. He added that everything will be done in order to fast track the attainment of the Federal Government's objective of meeting 75 per cent of the nation's drug needs locally.
Also speaking, Goodman, who is the product manager, disclosed that the occasion of the commissioning of the head office complex would be used to introduce the latest addition to the company's top-of-the-range pharmaceutical products, Mekoamin Syrup. He said Mekoamin is a brand of essential amino acids and vitamins specially formulated to aid healthy living.
Goodman said the drug is a nutritional supplement that is good for both the young and the old because it replaces worn out cells and tissues from the body. "It is a supplement made for all categories of people. It comes in two pack sizes of 200ml and 110ml bottles. The company had earlier introduced the capsule equivalence into the Nigerian market and there are all quite affordable", he said.
He added further that Mekaomin is a combination of eight essential amino acids and 11 vitamins designed to help the body in the formulation of new body proteins, enzymes and hormones in order to maintain good health. He said that since amino acids are not stored, but are converted to fuel, all essential amino acids must be supplied simultaneously to support maximum protein synthesis.
In his contribution, the marketing manager, Olorunsola, said with the company marketing about 71 brands of pharmaceutical products in the country, the stage was set for it to become one of the leading firms in that sector. He said factory, when commissioned, will start with the production of analgesics and other basic needs.
In answer to a question, Olorunsola said it would be difficult to source local raw materials for the sector in the absence of a petrochemical plant in the country. He added that although, there is a huge potential for the sector given Nigeria's endowment in oil resources, it has remained largely untapped. He said his firm has a very strong back up for anti-malarial drugs, which they presently market about four variants. According to him, when the factory comes on stream, malaria will be one of the disease conditions to be tackled.
He added that Mekaomin strengthens body immunity, improves muscular tone, accelerates physical and mental growth in children and it is aesthetically packaged to meet a patient's appeal.
by Andy Sambidge, Arabian Business
One of Dubai's most senior cardiologists spoke out on Friday about the boom in local cosmetic surgery practices, warning patients to prepare in advance of potentially risky operations.
Dr Klaus Kallmayer, from the German Heart Centre in Dubai Healthcare City, said more had to be done to warn patients about the dangers of the surgery so decisions were not taken lightly.
An Emirati woman underwent laser liposuction surgery at a Dubai hospital in November, 2007 but at the end of the procedure, her heart stopped, cutting off the oxygen supply to the brain.
Doctors resuscitated her but she had already slipped into a coma and died a few days later.
The Nation (Nairobi)
Kenyan men should brace for bad news — it has been confirmed that cases of prostate cancer are highest in Africans compared to other races.
The good news is that scientists recently discovered a “wonder drug” that can cure up to 80 per cent of the cases.
But why are Africans and men of African extraction more prone to the disease? Because of their genetic make-up.
The gene responsible is called ODC with a certain variant found in higher frequency in indigenous Africans and men of African ancestry than in other races.
Studies have indicated that Asians are least likely to have this gene, explaining why they have the lowest rates of prostate cancer.
The prostate is the gland below a man’s bladder that produces fluid for semen. Prostate cancer is the third most common form of cancer in men after lung and tumours of the head and neck. It is rare in men younger than 40.
Reliable treatment
Recently, medical experts in Kenya carried out studies on the rates and treatment of the disease and concluded that the disease was on the increase and there was no reliable treatment for advanced cases.
In a special supplement of the East African Medical Journal, Prof George Magoha, a urologist and Vice Chancellor at the University of Nairobi, said Kenya should increase the screening for the disease.
But the new drug has been described as potentially the most significant advance in the field of cancer research in the last 70 years.
Reported in the current issue of the Journal of Clinical Oncology this week, the new drug, Abiraterone could be available as a simple pill in two years.
According to the study, carried out by the University of Edinburgh, some of the treated patients, all with advanced prostate cancer, stopped taking pain relief medication within a short time after they started taking Abiraterone.
Advanced clinical trials involving 1,200 patients around the world are currently under way.
Another medical specialist, Dr P M Ngugi, a senior lecturer at the University of Nairobi, said the current hormone related treatment is effective but has the side effect of decreasing a patient’s physical activity.
“Androgen withdrawal therapy has a significant effect on walking speed and a physical performance in men with prostate cancer,” Dr Ngugi wrote in the East African Medical Journal.
Most of the other prostate cancer treatments, including radiation and medical castration have the effect of reducing sexual potency. Considering that one of the major reasons for treating cancer patients is to improve or retain a good quality life, lose of sexual prowess can be debilitating.
According to another study by Dr D. K. Kiptoon of Meru District Hospital, some of the patients seeking treatment for prostate cancer are as young as 46 although the mean age is about 66.7 years.
A family counsellor says that erectile dysfunction, which is linked to prostate cancer, poses a great challenge for many men and sometimes undermines patients’ will to live or fight the malignancy.
Another side effect of the hormone withdrawal treatment, according to Dr Ngugi, is that it leads to a patient experiencing hot flushes.
The logic behind this form of treatment is that the cancer is driven by sex hormones such as testosterone produced in the testicles. This treatment works by stopping the testicles from producing testosterone.
However, experts have now discovered that the cancer can feed on sex hormones from other body sources, including supplies of the hormone produced by the tumour itself.
Abiraterone, on the other hand, works by blocking production of the hormones throughout the body. Of those men who received treatment, the research panel wrote: “They have very aggressive prostate cancer which is exceptionally difficult to treat and almost always proves to be fatal. We hope that abiraterone will eventually offer them real hope of an effective way of managing their condition and prolonging their lives.”
It is hoped that the drug will also aid other cancer patients, including those with breast cancer. Typical life expectancy following chemotherapy is no more than 18 months but with the new product it is hopped this will improve significantly.
The International Congress in Aesthetic, Anti-Aging Medicine & Medical Spa Middle East will be held in Dubai at the end of November 2008, marking the first time the event has taken place in the Middle East. Analysts predict that the sector will be worth over $100bn annually by 2010.
Instead Healthcare has signed a joint venture agreement with Hong Kong-based Health Sciences for the launch and distribution throughout the Asia Pacific region of its unique, patented feminine hygiene product, Instead Softcup.
Instead's Softcup is said to be a unique advancement in menstrual protection, offering women increased protection and ease of use during their periods. Cleared by the FDA, Softcup is made entirely of hypoallergenic, non-toxic, and non-absorbent materials. Because it is positioned entirely internally, Softcup can be worn during all types of physical activity, including sex, without revealing any trace of protection.
Instead Healthcare and Health Sciences, a fully integrated manufacturing and distribution company, plan to coordinate the timing of the launch with the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing in August 2008.
Distribution of Softcup in China, Hong Kong, Taiwan and Asian countries is being finalized, with the addition to have South Korea, Middle East countries and Australia/New Zealand duly represented before the end of 2008.
It is anticipated that the agreement will result in Softcup products being distributed in over 30 additional countries over the course of the next few years.
One of Dubai's most senior cardiologists has spoken out about the boom in cosmetic surgery practices opening in Dubai, warning patients to prepare in advance of potentially risky operations. Dr Klaus Kallmayer, a cardiologist at the German Heart Centre in Dubai Healthcare City, said cosmetic surgery is not a harmless procedure but can have serious or even fatal consequences, and decisions should not be taken lightly.
Generex Biotechnology has received a purchase order for the approximate amount of $300,000 through its Generex MENA from a distributor in Saudi Arabia.
In addition to serving the Middle East and North African (MENA) countries with marketing and distribution of company owned and developed products, Generex MENA also identifies other complimentary over-the-counter products that meet the needs of the local market.
Bill Abajian, senior executive advisor for global business development at Generex, said: "We are very encouraged by the significant purchase orders generated by the Generex MENA office in such a short time frame. The Middle East represents a buoyant market with many opportunities in the over-the-counter product arena in addition to the company's core diabetes and metabolic disease focus."
A new report conducted under the supervision of the under the supervision of the European Federation of Pharmaceutical Industries and Associations (EFPIA) has found that Egyptians spend approximately $187m annually on counterfeit drugs, according the Egyptian Gazette. This accounts for up to 10% of the annual total drug spend in the country.
A Health Care Accreditation Council (HCAC) was launched in Jordan through a joint initiative from the Ministry of Health and USAID. The HCAC will be operating as a non profit private share holding company to look after level of quality and safety of health care services in Jordan.
Drug prices will rise in the UAE from October 15 following an agreement between the Ministry of Health, distributors and pharmacists, reported Gulf News. There will be a total increase of 27.25% on 1,129 drugs priced in euros. However, people with chronic conditions such as diabetes, will only pay a 5.8% increase.
The ruler of Dubai has issued a decree establishing a National Health Council to improve the standards of healthcare services in the UAE. The council is to be comprised of two representatives each from the Ministry of Health, the Abu Dhabi Health Authority, Dubai Health Authority, Dubai Health Care City, the medical services sectors of the Interior Ministry, and the armed forces as well as two representatives from the private health sector.
Saudi Health Minister Dr. Hamad Al-Manie announced yesterday that the kingdom's medical care facilities would undergo a radical shake up. The ministry plans to establish over 2,000 community clinics across the country, guaranteeing a doctor for every 2,000 to 3,000 people. The plans will focus on preventive health care, treatment and rehabilitation.
The UAE us building a Dhs25m ($6.8m) laboratory to test drugs sold in pharmacies to determine whether they are illegal, counterfeit or potentially dangerous, reported The National. The laboratory will be built in Sharjah and house state-of-the-art technology to test the ingredients and possible effects of drugs.
A study has shown that one in every 625 newborn in Qatar is diagnosed with congenital metabolic diseases - a rate much higher than the rest of the world, The Peninsula has reported. One of the major factors behind this high prevalence is being attributed to inherited metabolic diseases. Pre-implantation Genetic Diagnosis (PGD) and pre-natal screening is now in place in Qatar to put a check on the disease.
Healthcare demand will rise 240% in the GCC over the next 20 years, with health risk factors, ageing, population growth and medical inflation contributing to the rise in spending, according to Dr. Ioan Cleaton Jones, speaking at the GE Healthcare Middle East Media Summit held recently in Dubai. In response to this spending increase, the total number of hospital beds is projected to rise from 68,250 in 2006 to 114,450 by 2015 and 161,750 by 2025.
The UAE has a shortage of the vaccine for chickenpox, reported Gulf News. The cause of the shortage is increased demand due to an outbreak in the country. Government healthcare centres have the vaccine in stock, but will only make the vaccine available for high-risk patients, such as those with a lower immune system from illness or surgery.
Experts in a recent conference said healthcare spending in the UAE is alarmingly low at 2.5% of GDP, cited Gulf News. A recent McKinsey & Co. report noted that GCC countries are spending less than 5% of their GDPs in healthcare, while spending is expected to increase 419% more on cardiovascular treatment, 323% on diabetes treatment and 275% more on cancer treatment.
A study held in Abu Dhabi has shown cancer to be the most common cause of death in the emirate, according to a Gulf News report. In a retrospective survey of 900 hospital records cancer was found to be the most common cause of death, followed by accidental injury and cardiovascular disease. The study was to help authorities streamline healthcare resources and enhance preventative measures.
Doctors in Bahrain are endangering the health of children and adults by over prescribing antibiotics when treating patients, according to a Ministry of Health study. It found that a quarter of all medication prescribed in the country are antibiotics. Patients are pressuring doctors to give them antibiotics, prompting the Ministry to launch as awareness campaign and encourage doctors to prescribe less when treating people.
Despite health concerns and high obesity levels in Saudi Arabia, the consumption of high calorie food and drinks grew rapidly in 2007 compared to 2006 according to research company TNS. The consumption of fizzy soft drinks rose 29%, chocolate by 16.7% and salty snacks by 13.3%.
The Middle East's effort towards becoming self-sufficient in pharmaceutical production came under the spotlight this week at the Pharmaceutical and Biotechnology Middle East exhibition in Dubai. The combined pharmaceutical markets of the Arabian Gulf, North Africa, Levant and Iran is estimated to be valued at over $12bn and growing at an annual rate of 10%, organizers said. 'The Middle East wants to be not only self sufficient in pharmaceutical production but to also have a larger share of export, research and contract manufacturing,' said Simon Page, Group Director of Life Sciences for organisers IIR Middle East. There are already over 450 pharmaceutical manufacturers in the region.
Belgian pharmaceutical Qualiphar-Gifrer has signed a partnership agreement with Dubai Biotechnology and Research Park (DuBiotech) to set up operations within the life sciences park. The company deals into healthcare products, contract manufacturing and production of plant-herbal extracts.
US-based Pro-Pharmaceuticals, a company developing targeted therapeutic compounds to treat serious disease, has announced that it has signed a letter of intent with Yiaco Medical Co of Kuwait for the commercialisation of Davanat for the treatment of colorectal and biliary cancer. Yiaco Medical serves 18 countries and represents 80 healthcare companies in the Middle East and North Africa. Davanat is a proprietary carbohydrate polymer. Davanat's mechanism of action is based upon binding to lectins on the diseased cell surface. It targets specific lectin receptors (Galectins) that are over-expressed on cancer cells.
The Health Authority Abu Dhabi has issued new guidelines for pharmacies which require them to have a licensed pharmacist on duty during business hours, reported Gulf News. It also issued another circular informing all pharmacies that it is mandatory to use a new triplicate controlled prescription form. A copy will remain with the pharmacy, another one will be handed to the patient and a third copy given to the insurance company.
Pharmaceutical company Pfizer is setting up a medical and marketing headquarters in Dubai. It will be sited in the Dubai Biotechnology and Research Park (DuBiotech), and is part of its plan to make Dubai its regional hub for Middle East and Africa. The company already employs 1,300 people in the Middle East.
Egypt is now the third most affected country by bird flu, after Indonesia and Vietnam. To date there have been 47 human cases, with 20 deaths from the H5N1 influenza virus. So far the government has closed 18 infected chicken farms this year as the disease sweeps the country, but authorities said it is still difficult for humans to catch. Generally, victims catch the virus after inhaling the blood, feathers or powered faeces of chickens.
According to IIR Middle East, the Middle East pharmaceutical market grows between 15 and 18% annually, cited Gulf News, due to increasing public and private investment in the sector. IIR is organizing the International Pharmaceutical and Biotechnology Exhibition in the region to cover key areas in drug discovery, clinical trials and manufacturing through to biologics, devices, global licensing and regulatory aspects.
Oman's Majan Development Company has announced plans to develop a healthcare city near Muscat with an estimated investment of 300-400 million rials ($774m to $1.03bn), reported Reuters. A senior official of the Kuwait-based Gulf Investment House, which is initiating the project with a 20% stake, said a feasibility study for the project is underway. Oman's Ministry of Tourism has agreed to allot land of one million square metres near Blue City, which is 100 kilometres away from Muscat.
Oman's pharmaceutical market will grow in the short to medium term, supported by excellent healthcare facilities, which are continuing to receive attention from foreign investors, according to a report by Research and Markets. Prescription and patented drugs are expected to remain the dominant products within the overall market, at 97% and 92% of the total value, respectively. Their position will be retained by an affluent population, modernisation of healthcare facilities and the development of the private sector. On the other hand, cost-containment policies promoted by the government will encourage the development of the over-the-counter and generics sectors. The government is presently considering the introduction of a faster generics approval process for Indian-made products, which are increasingly present in the GCC.
Pfizer, the world's largest research-based pharmaceutical company, plans to set up a centre for research in the UAE to support the drug and medication needs of the Middle East region, reported Khaleej Times. In addition, Pfizer will provide a grant to incorporate non-governmental organisations in promoting a smoke-free environment.
Ras Al Khaimah- based Gulf Pharmaceutical Industries (Julphar) announced it will open two plants in April to produce antibiotics, reported WAM. The Dhs30m plants are expected to produce over 50 kinds of antibiotics in phase 1 with a total capacity of 30 million syringes a year. Work is in progress for Julphar's 7 new manufacturing plants with a total cost of Dhs800m.
Qatar is introducing rules that mean private companies in the country must provide universal health care for their employees. According to a report in Gulf Times, the insurance sector is expected to grow by 10% a year over the next three years on the back of this government sanctioned boost.
GlaxoSmithKline has launched differential pricing system to boost sales and expand its share in the developing countries, reported the FT.
The UK-based drug major is offering its medicines at variable prices in India, Morocco, South Africa and other developing nations, to tap into their large segments of middle class and low income groups. The new pricing system is said to be designed to generate a premium to recover R&D costs on new medicines from wealthier people in emerging economies without excluding those who cannot afford to pay. GSK is also offering Avandia, a medicine for diabetes at a low cost.
GSK believes that considerable gains can be achieved in both the social and economic fronts by offering drugs at a low price to a larger section of the population. By achieving greater volumes of sales, it can offset lower prices, and also help local governments utilize their meagre health resources in treating their most impoverished.
Dubai International Pharmaceuticals & Technologies Conference & Exhibition will launch its 13th edition on 10-12 March 2008 at the Dubai International Convention & Exhibition Centre. It is expecting to host over 220 companies from 48 countries and will showcase about 19 pharmacy workshops throughout the event.
The UAE is a prime emerging healthcare market, according to a North German delegation who participated at Arab Health 2008 under the banner 'Life Science Nord'. With an annual budget of $439m to improve medical services, the UAE's Ministry of Health is a viable market, the delegation said. The group organized a workshop with over 240 participants in Dubai's Rashid Hospital on the importance of disinfection.
A new Type 2 diabetes drug now available in the UAE uses an artificial version of the venom found in the Gila Monster, reported Gulf News. The saliva of the two-feet long pink and black lizard, native to the US, contains a chemical exendin-4, similar to a human hormone to help regulate blood sugar. The drug, Exenatide (Byetta), has proven effective in the control of Type 2 diabetes in humans.
Governor of Abyun Mohammed Shamlan held talks on Monday with the Cuban ambassador to Yemen Bienvenido Garcia Negrin on means of enhancing the Cuban support in the area of health and training Yemen cadres in various professional domains, reported Saba. The Cuban ambassador affirmed the distinctive relations between Yemen and his country, pointing out that Cuba would train the Yemeni cadres who study in his country to increase their scientific skills.
Health Minister Abdullah Al-Taweel signed an agreement with visiting Turkish counterpart Recep Akdag concerning joint healthcare cooperation, reported KUNA. The agreement focused on sending cancer and heart patients to Turkey for treatment, in addition to providing Kuwait with needed medical and technical staff. Maternal and pediatric health services, in addition to health awareness and research and planning programs were discussed with Turkish officials, Al-Taweel added, noting that taking advantage of Turkish academic expertise in developing the health sector in Kuwait, as well as training Kuwaiti staffers in Turkey and exporting medications from it were also discussed.
Private eye care in Egypt and Yemen are set to expand with a new partnership between Saudi Arabia's Magrabi Hospitals & Centers and the International Finance Corporation (IFC), a member of the World Bank Group, reported MENAFN. The new deal aims to address the need for high-quality ophthalmology services and bring world-class clinical and patient care to underdeveloped markets in the region. According to the agreement, IFC will provide $20m in equity to Magrabi Hospitals & Centers and $25m in loans to the Magrabi Hospitals in Egypt and Yemen.
Minister of Public Health and Population Abdul-Karim Rase'a held talks with the Italian ambassador to Sana'a Mario Buffo on the joint healthy cooperation between the two countries, reported Saba. The talks also focused on the preparing for the next phase of blood transfusions safety program financed by the Italian government. The two officials talked also about cooperation with Italian government in terms of offering scholarships in the rare medical majors for Yemeni students and medical treatment grants.
Yemen disposes 57 tons of bio-hazardous waste each day, but like most other developing countries, little attention is paid to medical and healthcare waste management, reported Yemen Times. Yemen has no medical waste management system in place and its current practices can lead to the transmitting of infectious diseases such as Hepatitis B and C, or even HIV, according to the Ministry of Health and Population and the World Health Organization (WHO). The risk of infecting medical staff and garbage collectors is even greater than the risk of infecting the public. Instead of dumping the waste in a proper landfill, Yemen burns the waste in an open landfill in Al-Azraqeen, in Sana'a.
Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research Saleh Ba-Surrah discussed with Cuban ambassador to Sana'a Bienvenido Garcia making use of the Cuban experiences in the field of higher medical education for Cuba had established the firs college for medicine in Aden, reported Saba. They discussed cooperation relations between the two friendly countries in field of higher education and scientific research and means of enhancing and improving them.
Minister of Public Health and Population Abdul-Karim Rasa'a and a delegation of Islamic Development Bank (IDB) held talks about possibilities of offering soft loans to establish a specialized bones disease hospital, reported Saba. During the meeting, the two sides discussed means of boosting cooperation relations between Yemen and IDB in health fields, especially in qualification and training medical cadres in various medical specializations abroad Yemen.
A consortium led by Spanish construction group OHL has won a contract to build a medical centre in Qatar, which would require investment of about 1.6 billion euros ($2.4bn), reported Reuters. OHL said it had 55 of the consortium with the rest owned by Contrack International, a subsidiary of Egyptian conglomerate Orascom. The building of the hospital in Doha was expected to take 40 months and would be made up of six buildings.
Nearly one out of three people in the UAE suffers from hypertension, of which 65% do not know they have high blood pressure and are unaware of the symptoms related to the condition, reported Gulf News. The report said many residents did not know the difference between hypertension and diabetes.
Aden Sanitation and Improvement Fund and Hadramout Program for Combating Malaria, and the Japanese embassy signed two cooperation treaties for supporting the fund and the program with $1.3m, reported Saba. The two projects aim at improving sanitation in Aden's districts, providing better health to people and protecting children and pregnant women against malaria in Hadramout.
