Revealed: How have the number of diabetics decreased in UAE

Abu Dhabi - The ministry has put in place a set of measures to control and stabilise the prices of drugs and medical products in the country.

The prevalence of diabetes among people in the UAE has dropped to 11.8 per cent, according to a UAE minister.
Abdul Rahman bin Mohammad Al Owais, minister of health and prevention, told members of the Federal National Council (FNC) on Wednesday that preventive measures and awareness programmes carried out by the ministry and other authorities concerned to educate people about the health risks of diabetes, have contributed to reducing the rate of diabetic patients from 18 per cent to 15 per cent over the recent years, and to a further 11.8 per cent this year.
The minister also noted that since 2008, the ministry has put in place a set of measures to control and stabilise the prices of drugs and medical products in the country. "The government has reduced the prices of imported medicines through a seven-stage plan, which included the reduction in prices for 9,840 medical products, including several new medicinal brands," he said.
Al Owais added that the UAE has issued laws and legislations that guarantee citizens the right to receive all medical services free of charge.
The minister was responding to a question from FNC member Dr Hawaa Al Mansouri about the ministry's efforts in supporting health services regarding treatment and supply of medicines.
"The UAE has succeeded in manufacturing 155 innovative pharmaceutical brands inside the country," pointed out Al Owais.
The minister said the UAE was providing high-quality medical services and that the percentage of hospitals operating in the country which have obtained international accreditation now exceeds 85 per cent of the total hospitals in the UAE.
ismail@khaleejtimes.com