Public Policy Document

Announced in 2024, the National Policy for the Promotion of Women's Health in the UAE aims to develop a multi-sectoral national framework to promote women's health, by ensuring access of all women in the UAE to high-quality, preventive, curative, rehabilitative, and efficient healthcare services in every phase of their lives. 

Women hold a distinguished status in the UAE and they play a pivotal role in preparing generations capable of driving progress, leadership, and nation-building. Women's health is integral to the overall health of society, defined by the World Health Organization as "a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being, not merely the absence of disease or infirmity." However, women’s health differs from men’s in several key areas.

Gender influences health due to unique biological, social, and behavioral conditions, with differences ranging from the cellular level to the phenotypic. Women have a greater likelihood of developing certain diseases and conditions while having a lower risk for others. Recognizing the importance of women's health as a crucial component of societal well-being, the Ministry of Health and Prevention is proactively addressing the healthcare needs and challenges that women face. Therein lies the importance of launching a national policy aimed at promoting women's health and well-being.

1. Support governance, leadership and partnership building to empower women to improve their health.
2. Promote maternal, reproductive, and sexual health.
3. Prevent and combat chronic diseases in women.
4. Promote women's mental health.
5. Promote healthy ageing among women.
6. Combat the health-related impacts of violence against women and girls and seek to eradicate its causes.
7. Reinforce information systems, innovation, and research capacity in the field of women's health. 
8. Foster environments that promote women's health in the UAE.

1. Support governance, leadership and partnership building to empower women to improve their health.
   • Foster and support social, financial, and administrative commitments to empower women.
   • Strengthen coordination at all levels, including effective national partnerships, networks and international cooperation to enhance women's health.
   • Develop legislations supporting women’s health promotion.
   • Enhance institutional capabilities, infrastructure, and professional staff to promote women's health.
2. Promote maternal, reproductive, and sexual health.
   • Enhance access to reproductive and sexual health services.
   • Promote and support pre-pregnancy, pregnancy, and post-natal healthcare and improve access to maternal healthcare services. 
   • Support pre-marital healthcare services.
3. Prevent and combat chronic diseases in women.
   • Support primary methods of chronic disease prevention and associated risk factors in women.
   • Ensure timely detection and effective intervention for chronic diseases that affect women and girls’ health.
   • Integrate services responding to the unique health needs of women and girls into primary health services.
4. Promote women's mental health.
   • Develop, promote, and expand comprehensive, integrated, and responsive mental health services for women.
   • Encourage efforts to prevent mental disorders specific to women in different stages of their life.
5. Promote healthy ageing among women.
   • Address the key risk factors reducing the quality of women’s lives as they age.
   • Identify and effectively manage the healthcare needs of elderly women.
6. Combat the health-related impacts of violence against women and girls and seek to eradicate its causes.
   • Raise awareness of the health-related impacts of violence against women and girls.
   • Combat health-related impacts and implications of physical or psychological violence.
   • Design and provide safe and accessible services for women who have experienced physical or psychological abuse.
7. Reinforce information systems, innovation, and research capabilities in the field of women's health. 
   • Collect data and statistics on women's health services and relevant health issues to support evidence-based decision-making. 
   • Promote high-quality research procedures to prevent and respond to health conditions related to women's health.
   • Apply research and studies’ outcomes and recommendations to develop appropriate initiatives and interventions that promote women's health.
8. Foster environments that promote women's health in the country.
   • Provide healthy environmental conditions that would allow women to live longer, healthier, and happier lives based on environmental sustainability. 
   • Provide protection, prevention, and a supportive environment for women, especially People of Determination.
   • Empower women and reinforce their role, as one of the most pivotal pillars of the health system.

1. Reduce the cancer mortality rate to 23.24 per 100,000 of the female population.
2. Reduce the mortality rate arising from cardiovascular disease. 
3. Reduce the number of female smokers.
4. Maintain a 99.99% percentage of births attended by skilled professionals.
5. Ensure antenatal care coverage (four visits) at 99.99%. 
6. Enhance satisfaction rate with family planning/contraception services. 
7. Reduce unhealthy lifestyle patterns by 3% (weight gain, obesity, and lack of physical activity).
8. Reduce the percentage of females with diabetes.

Health authorities in the UAE, medical associations, international health organizations, academic and research institutions, private sector enterprises, and women at all stages of their lives.