Established with the rise of the Union in 1971, the Ministry of Health was in dire need of distinguished national cadres, and Dr. Saud Kayed Al-Qassimi was one of these.

Early in May 1972, he joined the Ministry's staff as Director of Therapeutic Medicine Department; a division that constitutes the very raison d'etre of the Ministry whose principal objective is to provide medical treatment for the population, nationals and expatriates alike.

He is a holder of MBBCh, as well as a diploma in general surgery, Dr. Saud was one of the pioneering UAE physicians to gain this status. During his tenure, the Department was properly organized and efficiently run. He has participated in setting the Ministry's laws and bylaws, as well as its basic systems. He has also contributed significantly to the drawing of the Ministry's therapeutic policy.

 

In the second half of 1974 Dr. Saud was promoted to the rank of Undersecretary for the Ministry of Health, from which position he successfully tackled the issues and problems confronting the Ministry, moving as he did from its founding stage to the stage of development and expansion. 

 

For over a quarter of a century, Dr. Saud maintained his position, and continued to contribute to the legislations related to the medical profession as well as other federal laws. Throughout his eventful career, he was member of numerous medical and technical committees within the Ministry of Health and without. He has attended scores of scientific medical conferences in the UAE and abroad. He has also represented the UAE in a number of official Arab and international meetings, including the annual meeting of the World Health Organization {WHO).

 

Dr. Saud had started his career at Ras Al-Khaima at a time when there was a dearth of qualified medical cadres. He had done his best to relieve patients' suffering and to provide the best possible treatment. Under difficult living conditions, he had to work hard most of the day. Even when he assumed his positions at the Ministry of Health, Dr. Saud continued- until fairly recently- to practice the profession to which he had devoted himself.

 

Dr. Saud Kayed Al Qassimi is thus one of the pillars on which the Ministry of Health had been founded. He has wholeheartedly supported it until it has reached its present status. In addition, he has contributed to the establishment of academic medical education. He is also a member of several Gulf and Arab medical organizations.

 

For all such considerations, Dr. Saud Kayed Al Qassimi deserves the Hamdan Award for Honouring Individuals Working in the Field of Medicine and Health