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6 November 2009, 11:16 PM
The Technical Health Committee for Combating Swine Flu confirmed that those who test positive for H1N1 Influenza A will be given immediate access to medicine such as Tamiflu amd Relenza if they are admitted at private hospitals, and will no longer have to be referred on to a government facility.
The committee met in Dubai on Thursday.
Dr Mahmoud Fikri, executive director of health policy on the Committee for Combating Swine Flu, said the directive came from Dr Hanif Hassan, UAE Minister of Health and chairman of the Supreme Supervisory Committee for Combating H1N1.
The Ministry of Health, in collaboration with the UAE health authorities and other institutions, has ensured that the treatment will be provided to all swine flu patients across the country, Fikri said.
Earlier this week, the ministry received the first batch of 40,000 vaccines from pharmaceutical company GlaxoSmithKline. Another 50,000 are scheduled for delivery before the end of the year.
Although the vaccine has been approved for use in the European Union, the health ministry registered the drug for local use only this week after studying the safety dossier presented by the company.
Khaleej Times reported on Friday that the ministry had dropped its original plan of a nasal spray in favour of the intramuscular vaccine for safety reasons. “We studied reports and decided that the vaccine administered through an injection was safer than the spray that carried strains of the live virus,” said an official, who asked not to be identified.
On Sunday, the ministry will launch its national vaccination campaign in Abu Dhabi, with the Minister of Health receiving the first jab.
Meanwhile, Daman, the National Health Insurance Company, said it will cover all costs of investigation and treatment of influenza, regardless of severity.
Daman said it will also cover treatment for Daman members who are diagnosed with H1N1 infection outside the United Arab Emirates, provided the member’s insurance plan includes coverage for that particular
geographical area.