Dubai: The Cabinet resolution No 33 of 2016 on executive regulations of the federal law No 14 of 2014 on infectious disease control will come into effect six months after its publication in the official gazette, the Ministry of Health said on Saturday.
Dr Ameen Hussain Al Amiri, Assistant Undersecretary of the UAE Ministry of Health and Prevention for Public Health Policy and Licensing Sector, said the Cabinet resolution aims to complete the legislative framework to deal with infectious diseases that threaten public health. The Cabinet resolution tasked the Ministry of Health with drawing up plans and implementing strategies to cut down infection and mortality rates and this will be achieved through early detection and by control and prevention, Al Amiri added.
The resolution will also support the ministry’s efforts in minimising health risks through border crossings by assigning specialised medical teams.
Al Amiri pointed out that the resolution includes 23 articles that list definitions, and methods of reporting communicable diseases, especially those transmitted through animals. The articles also list procedures to be followed upon detection of these diseases, control procedures and the rights and duties of those infected, isolation and quarantine conditions, procedures to be followed with death cases and procedures to be applied on those coming into the country with these diseases or suspected of having these diseases.
He also said that the resolution encompasses an appendix containing forms for reporting communicable disease, levels of isolation rooms in hospitals and a table of highly dangerous communicable diseases such as plague, yellow fever, anthrax and mad cow and diseases less dangerous like hepatitis B and C and Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (Aids) as well as other medium-risk diseases, including bird flu, cholera, malaria, tuberculosis, measles and whooping cough, and tetanus.
According to the resolution, all listed bodies shall inform the health entities whenever they detect or suspect any case with communicable diseases or any death due to these diseases not later than 24 hours.
Pursuant to the resolution, the veterinary body shall immediately inform the concerned bodies upon detecting any communicable disease in any animal and shall provide necessary data such as the type of disease, location as well as other important information.
The resolution also binds competent bodies when establishing health units at border crossings to provide necessary equipment and capabilities to its trained personnel for the purpose of inspection.
It also binds those bodies to coordinate with relevant authorities and set necessary conditions and controls to ensure a safe environment free of sources of infection and contamination at all facilities used by passengers.
One of the most important features of the new legislative system for communicable diseases is that it stresses the rights of those infected and decides their duties. People infected with communicable diseases will receive free medication at the public health facilities, Al Amiri added.
