Abu Dhabi, 2nd Oct. 2011 (WAM) -- Dr. Amin Hussein Al Amiri, Assistant Undersecretary for Medical Practices and Licensing at the Ministry of Health, lauded the cooperation of the Coordination Council for Municipal Affairs that is chaired by Dr. Rashid Ahmed Bin Fahd, Minister of Environment and Water, in regulating the medical and environmental practices in the UAE.
This was stated during the meeting of the coordination council which was held lately to regulate all related medical practices especially cupping and medical massing. The council recommended that all licensing related to these professions must be approved by the Ministry of Health first. Dr. Amin Al Amiri, emphasized that the ministry is the only official body to approve the licensing of cupping, medical massaging and laser equipments in salons and beauty centers. Members of the meeting agreed not to allow shops selling herbs to use medical terms such as health, treatment, research and the municipalities will inspect these facilities and take the necessary procedures in case of any violations. He also added that selling medical and therapeutic medical mixtures and supplementary food are subject to the approval of the Ministry of Health, noting that these actions come as part of the continuous cooperation with the Coordination Council of Municipal Affairs at the Ministry of Environment and Water to monitor these activities properly by the concerned authorities. Al Amiri added that massaging using fish tanks known as fish pedicure in salons and beauty centers are not allowed and importation of supplementary food or herbal substances will not be provided with any licensing unless they are previously approved by the Ministry of Health. It is noted that the United Arab Emirates is one of the leading countries in the region to impose regulations pertaining to these practices in order to maintain the health and safety of community members. The UAE is one of the first countries that adopted a strict system for the practice of cupping and regulated the licensing process for qualified specialists. The purpose of this action is to ensure the safety of all practices falling under the title of cupping. This profession must be official licensed by the supreme committee for complimentary medicine while practitioners must also pass both oral and written exams on condition they work under medical supervision in a health center which is officially licensed by the ministry all health authorities in the UAE.Copyright Emirates News Agency (WAM) 2011.
