Primary health care in the United Arab Emirates

The aim of this paper was to assess some of the important variable factors concerning health care in United Arab Emirates (UAE), with special emphasis on primary health care (PHC). Other aspects considered are the population per bed, population per physician, population per dentist, population per pharmacist and population per nurse, all of which influence health care delivery in the UAE. There is a gradual improvement in health status, which can be seen by the increase of life expectancy in both males and females, and decrease in leading cause of death from infectious diseases. The health strategy of 1986-1991 has achieved its goals and has been reviewed and the new 5 year strategy has been formalized to adopt some major aspects in the development of health care delivery. Overall results showed that every 1235 people will be served by one physician and other health service indicators are bed/doctor 3.9; bed/nurse 1.3; population/dentist 15,763; population/pharmacist 13,174; and population/nurse 438. Also, a very good coverage of PHC has been achieved throughout the country so that no more than 200 people live in an area > 30 km away from health service or without a PHC clinic. All PHC clinics provide curative, preventive and promotive services with a small percentage of rehabilitation services. The government has adopted the PHC approach as the long-term strategy for achieving the goal of health for all by the year 2000. This was supported by the ministerial decree no. 139/86 in 1986. Recommendations are also made for improving health services and performance as well as better meeting the specific medical care needs of the people through expansion of PHC services.