191201 Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum
His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum. Image Credit: WAM

Dubai: Dubai: His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, today chaired a Cabinet meeting to review the latest developments with regard to supporting the medical sector in the fight against COVID-19.

“The worst has passed and the UAE worked as one team during the pandemic. The result is a global excellence in handling the crisis,” Sheikh Mohammed said.

In a series of tweets, Sheikh Mohammed said that the Cabinet had approved the restructuring of the UAE Gender Balance Council and the appointment of 11 new judges to the federal courts.

The Cabinet has also approved the regulations governing medical and pharmaceutical products in the country. “Our end goal is to ensure the quality and presence of all our medical needs throughout the year and across the country,” Sheikh Mohammed tweeted.

The Cabinet meeting was held in Qasr Al Watan, Abu Dhabi, in the presence of Lt General Sheikh Saif bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, and Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs.

During the meeting, the UAE Cabinet adopted several resolutions and initiatives aimed at continuing the modernisation of government work.

'Creating a universal model'

“We have discussed the advancement of the medical sector’s support procedures during the COVID-19 pandemic. The worst part is over, and the UAE has worked as one team and created a universal model of addressing the pandemic,” Sheikh Mohammed said.

The Cabinet also adopted a number of initiatives and policies aimed at modernising work in various areas and sectors and issued a resolution covering the executive regulations of the federal law regulating medical products, pharmacy, pharmaceutical facilities and related professions.

“We have approved the policies regulating medical and pharmaceutical products in the country, to ensure the quality of all national medical supplies at all times around the country,” Sheikh Mohammed added.

Supporting national humanitarian organisations

The issuance of the regulations will help improve the quality of health-care services, achieve customer satisfaction and ensure the secure supply of medicines for the community.

The Cabinet also approved an agreement between the UAE and Uzbekistan governments, regarding aid provided by the Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan Foundation, under the framework of supporting national humanitarian organisations and providing aid to Arab and foreign countries.

The Cabinet additionally issued a resolution on adopting the guidelines of a unified health protocol for border ports in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, in line with the recommendations of the World Health Organisations.

Legal status of health establishments

Sheikh Mohammed stressed that the Cabinet approved the restructuring of the UAE Gender Balance Council, to be chaired by Sheikha Manal bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, President of Dubai Women Establishment, in addition to the appointment of 11 new federal court judges.

The Cabinet also approved a resolution extending the notice periods given to health establishments to adjust their legal status, in line with the provisions of the federal law covering private health establishments.

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During the meeting, the Cabinet was briefed about several key reports, most notably the one titled, ‘The Procedures for Supporting the Health Sector by the Federal Government to Address COVID-19’. The report outlined the steps taken by the government to protect the health and safety of citizens and residents and the application of the highest-priority mechanism to provide medical and therapeutic supplies to confront the pandemic.