UAE Vice-President: Health care is a human right

Abu Dhabi: The health of UAE citizens is so precious that its value cannot be determined and treatment anywhere is a vested right for them, His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, told the ministerial retreat on Sir Bani Yas Island in Abu Dhabi on Monday.

Leading the two-day national brainstorming session to boost educational and health care sectors, Shaikh Mohammad said that Shaikh Khalifa provided continual support for the health sector and that he himself paid attention to progress in the sector, whether through the establishment of hospitals locally or through the provision of specialised medical services within the UAE or abroad.

Shaikh Mohammad said: “The government and people are working together as one team as the government is inspired by the people’s ideas with all contributing to improving services within one vision under the team leader, President His Highness Shaikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan.

“The buzzword of our success lies with harmonious and concerted work, our innovative, positive and interactive people guided by renewed vision. Our leader, Shaikh Khalifa is always supporting us.”

Shaikh Mohammad paid tribute to the UAE people for the creative suggestions that had contributed to the success of the Cabinet Retreat. He also thanked the entries and ideas from people in sisterly countries, some of which had been considered, he said.

In his concluding remarks to the two-day ministerial retreat on Sir Bani Yas Island, Shaikh Mohammad said that remarkable achievements had been accomplished since the first Cabinet Retreat in 2007, though challenges were tremendous.

The second day of the retreat was devoted to examining ideas put forward for improving the health sector.

Shaikh Mohammad said that the doors of the government as well as minds and hearts of officials are open throughout the year for feedback, suggestions and observations from the public. The government, he said, had drawn inspiration from the thousands of ideas and suggestions put forward by the public.

“It is our duty all to accelerate the pace of development and progress,’’ he said. ‘’With every day that passes, the government will be better than before because the source of new innovation and ideas , whether from citizens, employees or specialists, will never deplete and this is one of principles of action of our government.”

The delivery of better medical services is a joint task for the federal and local governments and the private sector, he said.

The special ‘government innovation laboratory’ which was part of the cabinet retreat, studied suggestions put forward for developing the health care sector.

The first category included raising the quality of health care services for the public and private sector. The second category examined the issue of raising the efficiency and competence of the health care staff, while promoting careers in health care. The third category examined developing the specialised medical services across the country. The fourth category examined suggestions to catalyse change into lifestyle patterns to improve general health. Finally, the fifth category discussed measures to limit the spread of diseases within society.

Lieutenant General Shaikh Saif Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, said the government is continuously striving to achieve Emiratis’ ambitions in a way that meets the outstanding stature the UAE has today.

He said he was proud of the discussions and talks that took place at the ministerial retreat. Shaikh Saif also admired the innovative suggestions generated from the discussions.

“These suggestions... will serve the nation and the people,” Shaikh Saif said.

— With inputs from WAM