Al-Watani sets a record by discussing 13 parliamentary questions in one session

The government is studying a "unified mechanism" for purchasing drugs manufactured in the country

"NBK" is keen to discuss the largest number of issues related to the affairs of the nation and citizens

The Minister of Health and Community Protection, Minister of State for Federal National Council Affairs, Abdul-Rahman Al-Owais, revealed that he submitted a proposal to the Council of Ministers regarding the study of a unified policy or mechanism for government procurement of drugs and medical products, one of its objectives is to increase the percentage of purchases of products manufactured within the state, including granting national companies price advantages for medicines Locally manufactured, up to 70% of the price of the innovative drug, encouraging international companies to establish factories in the country, and applying the purchasing priority policy in government procurement.

He stated that the state seeks to allocate six male and female nurses for every 1,000 of the population by 2021, explaining that nursing currently represents 47.3% of the total medical staff working in the country.

This came during Al-Owais 'response to parliamentary questions at the opening session of the second ordinary session of the 17th legislative term of the Federal National Council, which was held last Thursday, and set a precedent and a new record by discussing government representatives' responses to 13 parliamentary questions during one session.

The most prominent responses included the announcement by the Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology and Chairman of the Emirates Authority for Standardization and Metrology, Sultan bin Ahmed Al Jaber, about submitting the draft UAE system for personal health protection products to the government for approval, in preparation for defining the roles and responsibilities of federal and local government agencies in following up and monitoring the commitment of product companies Medical protection (masks, sterilizers, and disinfectants) by providing the best health standards.

The 13 questions addressed the sectors of food and medicine, health, industry and investment, education, housing, and community development, as they focused on the application of standard specifications approved in the food industry, the application of standard specifications approved in the antimicrobial products that are traded in the market, and the provision of training programs for new graduates from Citizens, the ministry's standards in selecting and qualifying family mentors, nursing staff in state hospitals, supporting local pharmaceutical factories, monitoring medical advertising, specialized and integrated centers for treating cancerous tumors, storing and maintaining the strategic medical stock, the technical sector in the Ministry of Health, and extending the validity of approving housing support During the current year, in addition to material support for care and training centers for people of determination, and the opening of Khalifa House for Family Care was delayed.

Governmental responses came from the Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology, Chairman of the Emirates Authority for Standardization and Metrology, Sultan bin Ahmed Al Jaber, to a question by Board member Dharar Al Falasi, regarding the procedures that the Emirates Authority for Standardization and Metrology takes in following up and monitoring the extent of the authorities ’commitment to implementing and following up the standards approved by Prior to that in the food industry, as the minister confirmed that based on the amendments made to the federal government, the authority has been merged with the Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology, and the necessary legislation is being issued in this regard, including the amendment of Federal Law No. 28 of 2001 regarding the establishment of the Emirates Authority For specifications and metrics.

Al-Jaber responded to another question by a council member, Hamid Al-Shamsi, about the emergence of antibacterial products, including sterilizers, disinfectants and masks, which are counterfeit, adulterated and not in conformity with the specifications and standards. Compliance with the requirements for obtaining conformity certificates.

The Minister of State for Governmental Development and the Future, President of the Federal Authority for Government Human Resources, Ohoud Bint Khalfan Al-Roumi, responded to a question by Osama Al-Shafar, a member of the Council, about the efforts of the Federal Authority for Government Human Resources in developing the training policy for new graduates of citizens.

She stated that the controls of appointment in the federal government are subject to the articles of the Human Resources Law and its executive regulations, and the approved job descriptions for jobs in the federal government, and none of these includes certain requirements for training by new graduates of citizens.

The member Kifah Al-Zaabi addressed a question to the Minister of Justice, Sultan bin Saeed Al-Badi, about the role of family counselors in reconciliation between family disputes, especially in divorce, custody and alimony disputes, and the criteria on which the ministry relies in selecting family mentors and qualifying them to work in this field. Family guidance committees in the Sharia federal courts reach nine committees, with a total of 24 family directors, a number that he considered "meets in the current stage."

In the health sectors, the Council received written responses from the Minister of Health, Abdulrahman Al-Owais, to a question from member Kifah Al-Zaabi, regarding the Ministry's efforts to strengthen the nursing staff in government hospitals, where the Minister responded that the number of nursing cadres and the actual need for them are measured and calculated based on the best international standards. And the necessary personnel are provided directly, to avoid any shortage that affects the quality of health services.

In response to a question by a member of the Board, Dirar Belhoul, about the plans and programs of the Ministry of Health regarding support for local pharmaceutical factories for medicines in the country, Al Owais said: “The Ministry is keen to support the national industry of medical products to achieve drug security through many initiatives, including giving an advantage. The price of locally manufactured medicines at all stages of manufacturing, to reach 70% of the price of the innovative medicine, and giving priority to accelerating the registration of locally manufactured medicinal products submitted for registration with the Ministry.

The minister also responded to a question from Al Falasi, about the ministry’s plans to store and maintain the strategic medical stock in the country, and to provide alternatives to medicines to the consumer, saying: “Cabinet Resolution No. 39 of 2015 regulates the country's strategic medical stock, and the Ministry, in cooperation with the National Authority To manage emergencies, crises, disasters and the concerned health authorities in the country, to develop a joint plan for managing, maintaining and replacing the strategic medical stock at the state level.

Cancerous tumors treatment

In response to a parliamentary question from the member, Moza Al-Ameri, about the efforts of the Ministry of Health and Community Protection to establish specialized and integrated centers for the treatment of cancerous tumors in the country, Abdul Rahman Al-Owais, Minister of State for Federal National Council Affairs, said: “There are currently 20 hospitals and governmental and private centers that provide services to cancer patients. According to the latest international protocols, practices and standards in this field, which are distributed in the emirates of the country, ”stressing that within the Ministry’s efforts that have been taken in the field of establishing specialized and integrated centers for treating cancerous tumors, the Ministry, in partnership with other health authorities, has taken a number of initiatives and directions, These include reducing deaths from cancer, establishing a national cancer registry, and launching innovative national programs to support cancer patients.

The "governmental drug purchase mechanism" increases the percentage of purchases of products manufactured in the country.

An Emirati system specifies specifications for health protection products.

A national plan for managing strategic medical stocks at the state level.

The state is seeking to allocate 6 nurses for every 1,000 residents by 2021.

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