Gulf News

UAE helps out cancer patients

HEALTH MINISTRY PROGRAMME WILL ALSO COVER 120 RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS PATIENTS

- Staff Report

In assosciati­on with the Year of Zayed, UAE has offered 90 cancer patients free medication |

Dr Al Amiri said the results of the two initiative­s will ensure appropriat­e treatment for needy patients through sustainabl­e solutions that ensure access of patients to medicines as per treatment plan.

The Ministry of Health and Prevention has signed two agreements with Pfizer Gulf Pharmaceut­ical Company to provide free medication­s to 90 patients with breast, lung, kidney and other cancers treated with Pfizer medication­s.

The agreements will also provide free medication­s for 120 patients with rheumatoid arthritis, who qualify for the initiative, for one year. This will be in keeping with the treatment plan and the doctors’ prescripti­ons.

The agreements come in line with the Year of Zayed initiative­s. The signing ceremony was held at the ministry’s headquarte­rs in Dubai, in the presence of Dr Ameen Al Amiri, the ministry’s assistant undersecre­tary for public health policy and licensing sector; and Mohammad Fawzi, cluster lead for Pfizer in the Gulf region.

Improving results

Dr Al Amiri said: “Our aim is to improve the quality of health services for all patients in the UAE, and to enhance the community’s happiness. We also work towards improving treatment outcomes by increasing patients’ commitment to the prescribed treatment, supporting uninsured patients and needy patients who lack prescripti­on coverage for their treatments. The initiative­s will also benefit patients with partial insurance coverage or none at all.”

He said the expected results of the two initiative­s will ensure appropriat­e treatment for these patients through sustainabl­e solutions that ensure the continuity of access of patients to medicines according to the treatment plan.

Social responsibi­lity

Fawzy said the agreements complement Pfizer’s commitment to the Year of Zayed and come within the framework of social responsibi­lity to support the efforts of the ministry in improving the quality of patients’ life.

Al Amiri explained that the role of Axios and MGG will enhance coordinati­on with charities and NGOs recognised by the UAE as strategic partners to organise and implement this programme.

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