Monday, March 28, 2011
Reviewing the UAE healthcare
My article published in Khaleej Times: 26 March 2011 The UAE stands at number 27th in world health systems ranking of the World Health Organization (WHO). While reading the WHO report on healthcare in the UAE, I was struck by the progressive manner in which it has taken its place among the developed nations of the world. The oil-fuelled surge in economic growth over the past years has seen the UAE’s total population grow at an average annual rate of 10 per cent to just over 4 million by the end of 2003, according to official figures from the Ministry of Planning. The attainment of an integrated health systems is actually the attainment of three goals: health, responsiveness and fairness of financial contribution. The UAE has seen notable growth in its health care. Over the past years government health strategies have focused on the welfare of the citizens who are considered to be the country’s major resource and integral to national development. Comprehensive health programmes have been adopted to meet the needs of the UAE society. Currently, the UAE has a comprehensive, government-funded health service and a developing private health sector. The private sector in recent years has become a significant partner in providing comprehensive health care to the people of the UAE. It is now contributing efficiently to curative and preventive services through the hospitals, polyclinics and diagnostic and medical centers and private clinics. According to the Regional Health System Observatory of EMRO’s published report of 2006, the Ministry of Health’s budget as a percentage of the governmental budget has remained relatively constant at about 7.7 per cent over the years (1982-2001). The 1999 Ministry of Health federal budget amounted to Dh1.44 billion dirhams. Health insurance companies have also made their entry in the last few years; some are national companies whereas others are branches of international organisations. The largest part of the budget specified for health goes to curative services, whereas little goes to the preventive and the primary health care services. Castro’s article on health care in Dubai notes the most common infectious disease in Dubai is chicken pox with 3,472 reported incidences in 2006. This is followed by Viral Hepatitis B with 392 cases and Pulmonary Tuberculosis with about 312 cases. Heat stroke is also rampant in Dubai due to very scorching summers. EMRO Report in 2006 said that communicable diseases still pose a problem to the United Arab Emirates despite the fact that the incidence of many communicable diseases has declined sharply in recent years. Viral hepatitis, tuberculosis and meningococcal meningitis are still considered an important public health problem. In recent years, non-communicable diseases, notably cardiovascular diseases, cancers and diabetes, as well as accidents, have been the leading causes of mortality. This is indicative that life style changes are mandatory. One wonders if the UAE needs a private national company for the management and delivery of health services and health-related programmes? Also, would nationalisation of health professionals help in improving quality of care? One does see an increase in employer-based health insurance market since individual health insurance is quite expensive. Recent studies of health systems internationally, have shown that using a broker in selecting your health insurance may help, though experts have argued that in the long run some sort of standardisation of rates would be much better. Using electronic medical records more widely across the UAE, would be very useful in registering all patients – the nationals and expats. Switching to the use of generic drugs would also cut huge costs. This should be supervised with a regulatory body to ensure quality and efficiency, perhaps something like the national institute of clinical effectiveness in UK could be set up in the UAE. source :http://www.khaleejtimes.com/DisplayArticleNew.asp?section=opinion&xfile=data%2Fopinion%2F2011%2Fmarch%2Fopinion_march124.xml
Sunday, March 20, 2011
Care for a puff, can you pay the price?
SOURCE: http://www.khaleejtimes.com/DisplayArticleNew.asp?section=opinion&xfile=data/opinion/2011/march/opinion_march53.xml
My Article for The Khaleej Times
Care for a puff, can you pay the price?
11 March 2011: " A fun night out, an easy way to keep the weight under control, the fun flavours of Shisha, peer pressure to appear “in” – keeping aside these reasons, one faces an increased risk of cancer for one’s own self and for others. In 1957, the US Public Health Service confirmed that data suggested a causal relationship between smoking and lung cancer. And since then America has seen a drastic decline in their smoking habits. Cigarette smoking is a leading preventable cause of death in USA (CDC). As the west is focused on eliminating this health hazard, the tobacco companies are focusing on Asia to be their major tobacco market.
The World Health Organization (WHO) statistics show that tobacco is the chief preventable cause of death in the world. It causes 1 in 10 deaths among adults worldwide and kills up to half of all users. 100 million deaths were caused by tobacco in the last century, and if current trends continue, there will be up to one billion deaths in this century.
So what is the rationale for calling smoking ‘not cool’? The Center for Disease control and prevention (CDC) states that when non smokers were compared with smokers, data showed that there was an increase risk of:
· coronary heart disease by 2 to 4 times
· stroke by 2 to 4 times
· men developing lung cancer by 23 time
· women developing lung cancer by 13 times, and
· dying from chronic obstructive lung diseases (such as chronic bronchitis and emphysema) by 12 to 13 times.
Cigarette smoking is known to be the main cause of mouth, esophagus, pharynx and bladder cancers. It also has a role in the development of cancers of stomach, kidney, pancreas, and some forms of leukemia (CDC). The harmful effects of tobacco do not end with smoking cigarettes. That beautiful Shisha is not as harmless as many of us may like it to be- it would not be wrong if it was classified as a fatal attraction!
Babies born to mothers who smoke are 1.5 - 3.5 times more likely to be of low birth weight and are 33 per cent are more likely to be stillborn or die during the neonatal period (Schroeder). Furthermore, the adverse health effects of smoking during pregnancy extend into childhood, increasing the risk of impaired growth and educational achievement (Bartecchi et al.). Second hand smoke increases risk of heart disease by 25–30 per cent, and of lung cancer by 20–30 per cent (CDC 2002), and in children increases the risk of SIDS and acute asthma exacerbations (West and Cohen).
According to Center of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the UAE Global youth tobacco survey ( GYTS) 2005 showed the about 25 per cent of grade 7th,8th , 9th and 10th students smoked. And about 32 per cent use other tobacco products. About 40 per cent of these students bought the cigarette at a store and majority had no difficulty buying them. According to the global school based student health survey (CDC 2010), about 82.1 per cent of the students who smoked cigarettes did it before the age of 14 years!
In the UAE, the WHO Report on the Global Tobacco Epidemic 2008 estimates that over one quarter (27.2 per cent) of the male population smoke tobacco, compared to only 2.4 per cent of the female population. The report says that “among smokers who are aware of the dangers of tobacco, three out of four want to quit.” But like people dependent on any addictive drug, it is difficult for most tobacco users to quit on their own, and they benefit from help and support to overcome their dependence.” According to an article by Peter Harrison, “UAE health officials say 14 per cent of all cancer cases in the nation are lung cancer and most are smoking related.”
If you were a smoker and decide to quit: Smoking cessation reduces the risk of developing and slows the progression of established tobacco-related diseases, and increases life expectancy (Office of the Surgeon General). Quitting by age 30 eliminates nearly all excess risk associated with smoking, and smoker s who quit smoking before age 50 half their risk of dying in the next 15 years (CDC 2002). A place which believes in dreaming big and achieving, a healthier smoke free environment is an aspiration that desires to be fulfilled. "
'The best way to break a bad habit is to drop it.' ~Leo Aikman
My Article for The Khaleej Times
Care for a puff, can you pay the price?
11 March 2011: " A fun night out, an easy way to keep the weight under control, the fun flavours of Shisha, peer pressure to appear “in” – keeping aside these reasons, one faces an increased risk of cancer for one’s own self and for others. In 1957, the US Public Health Service confirmed that data suggested a causal relationship between smoking and lung cancer. And since then America has seen a drastic decline in their smoking habits. Cigarette smoking is a leading preventable cause of death in USA (CDC). As the west is focused on eliminating this health hazard, the tobacco companies are focusing on Asia to be their major tobacco market.
The World Health Organization (WHO) statistics show that tobacco is the chief preventable cause of death in the world. It causes 1 in 10 deaths among adults worldwide and kills up to half of all users. 100 million deaths were caused by tobacco in the last century, and if current trends continue, there will be up to one billion deaths in this century.
So what is the rationale for calling smoking ‘not cool’? The Center for Disease control and prevention (CDC) states that when non smokers were compared with smokers, data showed that there was an increase risk of:
· coronary heart disease by 2 to 4 times
· stroke by 2 to 4 times
· men developing lung cancer by 23 time
· women developing lung cancer by 13 times, and
· dying from chronic obstructive lung diseases (such as chronic bronchitis and emphysema) by 12 to 13 times.
Cigarette smoking is known to be the main cause of mouth, esophagus, pharynx and bladder cancers. It also has a role in the development of cancers of stomach, kidney, pancreas, and some forms of leukemia (CDC). The harmful effects of tobacco do not end with smoking cigarettes. That beautiful Shisha is not as harmless as many of us may like it to be- it would not be wrong if it was classified as a fatal attraction!
Babies born to mothers who smoke are 1.5 - 3.5 times more likely to be of low birth weight and are 33 per cent are more likely to be stillborn or die during the neonatal period (Schroeder). Furthermore, the adverse health effects of smoking during pregnancy extend into childhood, increasing the risk of impaired growth and educational achievement (Bartecchi et al.). Second hand smoke increases risk of heart disease by 25–30 per cent, and of lung cancer by 20–30 per cent (CDC 2002), and in children increases the risk of SIDS and acute asthma exacerbations (West and Cohen).
According to Center of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the UAE Global youth tobacco survey ( GYTS) 2005 showed the about 25 per cent of grade 7th,8th , 9th and 10th students smoked. And about 32 per cent use other tobacco products. About 40 per cent of these students bought the cigarette at a store and majority had no difficulty buying them. According to the global school based student health survey (CDC 2010), about 82.1 per cent of the students who smoked cigarettes did it before the age of 14 years!
In the UAE, the WHO Report on the Global Tobacco Epidemic 2008 estimates that over one quarter (27.2 per cent) of the male population smoke tobacco, compared to only 2.4 per cent of the female population. The report says that “among smokers who are aware of the dangers of tobacco, three out of four want to quit.” But like people dependent on any addictive drug, it is difficult for most tobacco users to quit on their own, and they benefit from help and support to overcome their dependence.” According to an article by Peter Harrison, “UAE health officials say 14 per cent of all cancer cases in the nation are lung cancer and most are smoking related.”
If you were a smoker and decide to quit: Smoking cessation reduces the risk of developing and slows the progression of established tobacco-related diseases, and increases life expectancy (Office of the Surgeon General). Quitting by age 30 eliminates nearly all excess risk associated with smoking, and smoker s who quit smoking before age 50 half their risk of dying in the next 15 years (CDC 2002). A place which believes in dreaming big and achieving, a healthier smoke free environment is an aspiration that desires to be fulfilled. "
'The best way to break a bad habit is to drop it.' ~Leo Aikman
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