UNITED ARAB EMIRATES: Elderly Care Impresses Swedish Minister

ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates (Khaleej Times), December 3, 2007: The system adopted by the UAE health and social sectors in catering to the elderly people is advanced and effective, Goran Hagglund, Sweden's Minister of Health and Social Affairs, said here today. The minister was on a 3-day visit, heading a high-level delegation to explore possible areas of cooperation between the two countries. The 31-member delegation consisted of healthcare professionals, representatives of renowned Swedish healthcare and rehabilitation institutions and pharmaceuticals companies. Hagglund held talks with Minister of Health Humaid Mohammed Obaid Al Qutami and Minister for Social Affairs Mariam Mohammed Khalfan Al Roumi. He told Khaleej Times that his country will contemplate means and ways of benefiting from the UAE policy regarding services provided for old people. “In the UAE, elderly people are taken care of in a way where sons and daughters are involved. I hope Sweden will benefit from the UAE expertise in this regard in order to provide old people with a social life and home care,” he said. He said he was very impressed with the healthcare system in the country and the social development. “The UAE has a quality healthcare system. However, I think it is very important to have cost-controlled treatment where costs can be controlled and, at the same time, quality medical care is secured,” suggested Hagglund. He said the two sides also discussed ways of fighting ailments like diabetes, which is also prevalent in Sweden, as well as best criteria for hospitals management. Hagglund underlined that Sweden’s policy on taking care of elderly people is mainly based on keeping them in a specialised centre where they receive medical care. “We have different social security systems and we could benefit from each other’s experience to improve social services.” By Nada S. Mussallam, Staff Reporter Copyright © 2007 Khaleej Times