Abu Dhabi: In a major decision, the UAE Cabinet on Sunday approved a nationwide programme to evaluate public hospitals and clinics by introducing a number of criteria to measure quality of health care services and build a unified database to develop policies and strategies.
The evaluation criteria will include measuring waiting time, patient satisfaction, duration of admittance, percentage of surgery success and publishing customer feedback surveys for the public, it was announced on Sunday.
The Cabinet also discussed training for public school teachers. Boosting the health care and education sectors is a cornerstone of the government’s strategy to provide the best quality of life for both Emiratis and residents, said His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, while presiding over the Cabinet meeting at the Presidential Palace in Abu Dhabi.
Shaikh Mohammad said the health care and education sectors have been witnessing rapid changes globally. “Under the leadership of my brother, President His Highness Shaikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, we aim to cope with and improve quality public services, especially in education and health, continuously. Creating the proper environment for our people and all residents is our major priority.”
Shaikh Mohammad added that efforts at improving health care and education services in the UAE will not stop as they are a priority in most people’s lives. “Quality and innovation should be cornerstones in health care and education systems and we want them to be the top systems globally that will ensure happiness for all.”
The Cabinet reviewed a proposal to fund a specialised on-going training programme for public school teachers to improve the educational environment and to develop specific skill sets that will help enhance the learning process in schools.
In another major decision, the Cabinet approved an initiative to use energy-saving lamps on federal streets. In addition to saving energy, the initiative is aimed at protecting the environment, sustaining natural resources and developing a sustainable infrastructure by using environment-friendly technologies that reduce light pollution, save money and ensure safety.
The Cabinet discussed the energy and climate-change file of the UAE in view of the UAE’s participation in the Paris Climate Change conference late last year, as well as a report on Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week that will take place this month.
Addressing legislative matters, the Cabinet endorsed the issuing of executive regulations of the Federal Law No. 14/2014 on combatting communicable diseases, which sets out measures on how to report a case of communicable disease, and measures to be taken if an infection is detected in animals that puts humans at risk. It also highlights setting up of a border medical control unit and measures to deal with different scenarios to protect public health.
Reviewing organisational issues, the Cabinet approved the restructuring of the board of the Emirates General Petroleum Corporation with Obaid Humaid Al Tayer, Minister of State for Financial Affairs, as its chairperson.
In relation to international affairs, the Cabinet ratified a number of international agreements to boost economic and technical cooperation.
The UAE Cabinet meeting was held at the Presidential Palace and was attended by Lieutenant General Shaikh Saif Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, and Shaikh Mansour Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs.
Halal certification forum in Dubai
The UAE Cabinet has approved the setting up of the International Forum for Halal Certification Bodies to be based in Dubai to regulate the booming global industry and to introduce an inspection mechanism that safeguards customers’ rights and industry promotion. The forum will help in building confidence in Halal-certified food and non-food products world over, ensure and facilitate trade movement in the Halal industry and boost cooperation among regional and international organisations. Hosting the International Forum for Halal Certification Bodies in the UAE reflects the government’s efforts to be a global reference point in Halal certification products as well as enabling legislation.
