One of the healthcare indicators pointed out in the video is life expectancy. As it stands now, there has been a considerable rise in life expectancy in the UAE. According to the data provided by the World Health organization, life expectancy had improved to 76.5 years in 2011 down from 75.3 years way back in 2005 (The Prospect group 2012). Whereas these figures indicate an overall improvement in the quality of life, there are other vital indicators that should be put into account before making such a conclusion. For example, infant mortality is still a health concern even though it has dropped over the past few years. Immunization programs alone cannot be adequate to guarantee a longer lifespan. Access to healthcare facilities across all segments of the UAE population should also be addressed in order to obtain an accurate evaluation on the standard of living in this region. Nonetheless, it has been noted in the video that 100 percent of the UAE population can easily access safe water for drinking. This is a remarkable achievement in the healthcare record of the United Arab Emirates bearing in mind that water is an essential commodity that forms part and parcel of a decent living condition (Younis, Barhem, Hamidi, Inungu, Prater & Okeefe 2009, p.332).
The management of lifestyle diseases is still a major challenge in the United Arab Emirates. As a matter of fact, this region has recorded the worst incidents of lifestyle infections across the globe. As much as life expectancy is a positive indicator in the United Arab Emirates, diabetes is a serious healthcare challenge that is yet to be addressed fully. Both obesity and diabetes are lifestyle complications that the UAE authorities can handle effectively. Healthcare records from UAE indicate that the management of diabetes is below the expected standards since several instances of this disease are witnessed on a regular basis. Perhaps, the healthcare authorities have relaxed in offering lifestyle education related to the consumption of highly refined foodstuffs. Insufficient physical exercise is yet another failure that has been witnessed in the UAE population (Jabnoun & Aisha 2005, p.75). It is vital to mention that research and development in healthcare should incorporate healthcare education on food consumption. Unless the population is sensitized on the latter, the gains that have been attained will be derailed. If 20 percent of the UAE population is at high risk of diabetes, then it implies that the future life expectancy may drop far below the current level (The Prospect group 2012).
In terms of the healthcare infrastructure, the healthcare system in the United Arab Emirates is still facing a major challenge. From the video, it is evident that the rate of admission into the UAE hospitals has surpassed the available capacity. It is clear that the UAE population is growing at a very high rate even though the required facilities have not been expanded. Healthcare provision is obviously strained in the region if 1000 people can be attended by 1.6 doctors and also accommodated by only two hospital beds (The Prospect group 2012). Although these figures have marginally improved over the years, effective healthcare planning in the United Arab Emirates should be put in place. The surging population should perhaps be used as the key determinant in the expansion of hospital facilities. It is not just enough to offer clean drinking water to the entire population. The healthcare needs of the UAE should be structured in such a way that sufficient infrastructure is availed within a span of five years before any major overhauls are undertaken (Bowman, Matzopoulos & Lerer 2008, p.13).
References
Bowman, B., Matzopoulos, R. & Lerer, L. 2008, “Spearheading human and economic development in the Arab world through evidence-based and world-class healthcare”, Education, Business and Society: Contemporary Middle Eastern Issues, vol. 1, no. 1, pp. 12-15.
Jabnoun, N. & Aisha, J 2005, “Transformational leadership and service quality in UAE hospitals”, Managing Service Quality, vol. 15, no. 1, pp. 70-81.
The Prospect group 2012, Healthcare in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Web.
Younis, M.Z., Barhem, B., Hamidi, S., Inungu, J., Prater, G.S. & Okeefe, A. 2009, “The Case For Regulatory Reform In The Business And Healthcare Environments”, Journal of health and human services administration, vol. 32, no. 3, pp. 324-341.