Private sector role in healthcare stressed

The burden of providing health and medical services lies on the private sector, Sheikh Mohammed bin Saqr Al Qasimi, Undersecretary at the Ministry of Health and Director, Sharjah Medical District, declared yesterday.

"More investments in health and medical services are needed by the private sector to help provide the necessary support to the government sector," he urged, after inaugurating the first foetal diagnosis and treatment clinic of its kind in the country, located near Al Taawun Mall.

"The private medical sector is a supporter to government health services, just as the commercial private sector is to the country's economy," he said.

"We wish to see more and more private clinics providing diagnostic and treatment services in different specialities; this is urgently needed," the official emphasised.

He added more centres like the new foetal clinic - which offers specialised diagnostic and treatment facilities for the unborn child, and is the only comprehensive facility of its kind throughout the Middle East - are needed.

"Such clinics deploy the latest facilities and help transfer expertise and technology to the country," he pointed out.

Speaking about the new centre, he said the foetal clinic will help parents avoid them the hassle of travelling abroad in case of any complications facing the unborn child.

He, however, stressed the government is also working to establish a specialised gynaecology hospital in Sharjah, with the Ministry of Public Works and Housing preparing the designs, after which the project will be announced for bidding.

Dr Afshin Pour Mirza, Managing Director, Foetal Medicine Clinic, explained the facility operates as a referral centre and is exclusively for parental examinations and treatment.

The clinic uses the latest 4-D ultrasound technology, facilitating extensive foetal evaluation.

"This helps provide early detection of chromosomal abnormalities and risk assessment and monitors high risk pregnancies, including those suffering from diabetes or hypertension, as also multiple or assisted pregnancies," he said.

The facility will also help provide appropriate genetic counselling based upon different factors, including: pregnancy by blood relatives, recurrent abortion, risk assessment for familiar illnesses, recurrent congenital illnesses and clarification of pregnancy risk.

The clinic can provide treatment for infusion, foetal blood transfusion and pleuro-amniotic shunting in cases of pleural effusion.

"We do not provide complete parental care or delivery services, but can offer referrals when needed," he clarified.

Dr Mirza claims extensive experience in this field in different parental centres in Europe, after finishing his medical studies in Germany and taking up specialised courses in Germany and the UK.