Health ministry teams up with Pfizer for smoke-free environs

Abu Dhabi: One of the main targets in the UAE is to create a non-smoking environment, said the health minister on Sunday.

Humaid Al Qutami, Minister of Health, and Jeffrey B. Kindler, Chairman and CEO of Pfizer Inc. yesterday discussed a partnership between Pfizer and the Ministry in projects such as creating a non-smoking environment and in promoting workshops, awareness programmes and seminars for Continuous Medical Education (CME). CME consists of educational activities which serve to maintain, develop, or increase the knowledge, skills, and professional performance and relationships that a physician uses to provide services for patients, the public, or the profession.

"My meeting with Pfizer was good. We discussed so many issues relevant to the development of medicine in the UAE and we are trying to build strong relationships with international firms such like Pfizer. We discussed how Pfizer can help us develop the non-smoking society and have regulations within this issue. We also discussed partnership to create CME workshops," said Al Qutami.

According to Kindler, Pfizer UAE's main aim is to make sure patients have access to innovative medicine.

"Pfizer will be launching, through the support of a Pfizer Foundation Grant, a project to engage non-governmental organisations in promoting smoke-free environment," added Mohammad Salah Roushdy, Pfizer's Regional Director for the Middle East Region.