Since the beginning of the year, the Ministry of Health and Prevention has issued 126 licenses for new medical and pharmaceutical facilities.

The new facilities included 22 multi-speciality medical centres and clinics, 58 pharmacies, 37 medical warehouses, 6 medical offices and two pharmaceutical plants.

Dr. Amin Hussein Al Amiri, Assistant Undersecretary for Public Policy and Licensing Sector for the UAE's Ministry of Health and Prevention, and Vice Chairman of the Medical Licensing Committee, stated that the increasing number of new medical facilities underscored the transparency brought by the ministry and the streamlined procedures it is applying to encourage the private sector to invest in the medical sector as a strategic partner of the ministry in realising its objectives.

He revealed that 16 violators -- 11 health facilities and five pharmacies -- had been temporary closed a period ranging from one month to six months for flouting requirements for health facilities. The closure, he noted, followed 1,097 inspections conducted in the first five months of the year.

Source :WAM