H.E. Abdul Rahman Al Owais, the UAE Minister of Health and the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Sheikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Award for Medical Sciences, chaired the 1st meeting for the Award’s new Board of Trustees.

 

The meeting brought together H.E. Humaid Mohamed Al Qatami, the Chairman and Director General of Dubai Health Authority and the Deputy Chairman of the Award’s Board of Trustees, and the Board’s members namely; H.E. Butti Saeed Al Kindi, the Vice Chairman of the Dubai World Trade Centre, H.E. Mirza Hussain Al Sayegh, the Treasurer, H.E. Prof. Najib Al Khaja, the Secretary General, H.E. Dr. Abdullah Al Khayat, H.E. Dr. Al-Said Jafar Al-Said Mohammed, H.E. Dr. Ahmed al-Hashemi, H.E. Dr. Hussein Abdul Rahman Al-Rand, Assistant Undersecretary for Health Centers and Clinics, UAE Ministry of Health, and H.E. Abdullah Bin Souqat.

 

At the beginning of the meeting, the members of the new Board of Trustees extended their sincere thanks and gratitude to H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai, UAE Minister of Finance, Chairman of Dubai Health Authority, and the patron of the award, for his continuous support for the medical sector in all aspects and in all possible ways, in order to improve the medical and health services. They also praised the precious trust invested in them by H.H. Sheikh Hamdan, and his directives concerning the importance of developing the Award in line with the national strategy to improve the medical sector towards new horizons of sustainable development.

 

The Award’s Board of Trustees stressed that the Sheikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Award for Medical Sciences is an important strategic partner for all local, regional and global medical and health institutions. H.H. Sheikh Hamdan is keen to enhance these partnerships through the opening of new channels of communication and constructive cooperation between the Award and the international organizations in the medical and health sectors in all the research, regulatory and administrative aspects.

 

During the meeting, the members of the Board of Trustees praised the history of the Hamdan Medical Award, through more than 16 years, during which the Award has reached a significant place in the international medical arena. The Award’s achievements, especially in honoring prominent scientists and researchers and supporting scientific research, have contributed in promoting excellence in the medical and health sectors and encouraging interest in scientific research.

 

The Council also mentioned the important role played by the award’s Centre for Arab Genomic Studies in monitoring genetic disorders among Arabs and raising awareness among the various segments of the population to enhance knowledge about genetic disorders and to encourage scientific research in this important field.