Health

Stem cell bank to open in Qatar in July 2010

A stem cell processing and storage bank will start operations in Qatar in July 2010, putting the Gulf state at the forefront of regenerative medicine, company chiefs have announced. The Virgin Health Bank (VHB), which will collect, process and store cord blood taken from the umbilical cord of newborns, is a partnership between Qatar Science and Technology Park (QSTP) and the UK-based VHB. "We aim to transform lives through the use of cord blood stem cells in the region. This will be by providing information and championing new standards of high quality ethical banking services," said Andrew Glen, commercial director, VHB-QSTP. Stem cells, taken from the blood in the umbilical cord, can renew themselves through cell division and differentiating into specialized cell types. More than 80 diseases can be treated using cord blood and the Qatar facility will help spur cell therapy for various disorders including genetic ones.

A healthy injection for Bahrain's health sector

Bahrain's health facilities are receiving a BD9 million injection as part of a comprehensive modernization plan. The extra funds are in addition to the BD176 million already sanctioned for the ministry for the year, said Under-Secretary Dr Abdul Hai Al Awadhi. "Of the extra funds, BD2.4 million will be spent on an upcoming genetic diseases centre while BD1.54 million has been earmarked for a new intensive care unit," he said. "We have also set aside BD1.7 million to modernize the x-ray and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) facilities at Salmaniya Medical Complex (SMC). "Dr Al Awadhi said BD2.5 million had been allocated for the modernization of various cancer treatment facilities. "This will be used to purchase state-of-the-art equipment," he said. Another project that will be taken up is a BD200,000 expansion of the pediatric ward at the SMC.

Saudi health premiums rise by 40 per cent as H1N1 weighs down on insurers

Swine flu has taken its toll on the Saudi health insurance sector as premiums have shot up by an average 40 per cent. This is in addition to 3,500 cases of infection and 26 fatalities. Earlier, several insurance companies in the kingdom refused to cover expenses relating to swine flu on the pretext that insurance policies do not cover epidemics. However, the government directive to both government and private hospitals to provide treatment for swine flu patients forced them to change their stance. They also bowed to pressure from their respective international reinsurance companies to make an increase in the insurance premium in cases where they cover the expense of swine flu treatment.