During the meeting Sheikh Mohammed affirmed that boosting both healthcare and education sectors constitutes a cornerstone of the government’s strategy in order to provide the best quality services that benefits both Emiratis and residents of the UAE.

The Cabinet also discussed means to improve healthcare services in the UAE as well as training public school teachers. 

Sheikh Mohammed said that both sectors of healthcare and education witnessed rapid changes globally. Under the leadership of President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the UAE government aim improve quality public services, especially in education and health, continuously. He further noted that providing the proper environment for UAE people and all residents is the UAE’s top major priority and that improving both sectors will not stop for they receive the government’s utmost attention. Moreover, quality and innovation should be cornerstones in healthcare and education systems in the government’s endeavors to position them at the forefront globally so as to ensure the happiness for all UAE citizens.

The Cabinet discussed setting up a national programme to evaluate public hospitals and clinics by introducing a number of criteria to measure quality of healthcare services and build a unified database that will help develop policies and strategies to improve services. The evaluation criteria will include measuring wait time, patient satisfaction, percentage of surgery success and publishing customer feedback surveys to the public.

The Cabinet also reviewed a proposal to found a specialised on-going training programme for public school teachers to improve the educational environment, and develop specific skill sets that will help enhance the learning process in schools.

On another note, the Cabinet members approved the setting up of the International Forum for Halal Certification Bodies to be based in Dubai, which is a first of its kind forum with aim to regulate the industry which is gaining momentum around the world, as well as introduce an inspection mechanism that safeguards customers’ rights and industry promotion.

The Forum will help build confidence in halal-certified food and non-food products in the world, ensure and facilitate trade movement in the Halal industry and boost cooperation among regional and international organisations. Hosting the International Forum for Halal Certification Bodies in the UAE reflects the government’s efforts to be a global reference point in Halal certification products as well as enabling legislation.

On environment, the cabinet signed an initiative to use energy-saving lamps to light up the country's federal streets. In addition to saving energy, the initiative is aimed at protecting the environment, sustaining natural resources and developing a sustainable infrastructure by using environment-friendly technologies that reduce light pollution, save money and ensure safety.

The Cabinet discussed the energy and climate-change file of the UAE, having taken part in the Paris Climate Change conference late last year, as well as a report on Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week that will take place this month.

Addressing legislative matters, the Cabinet endorsed the issuing of executive regulations of the Federal Law No. 14/2014 on combatting communicable diseases, which sets out measures on how to report a case of communicable disease, and measures to be taken if an infection is detected in animals that infect humans. It also highlights setting up a border medical control unit and measures to deal with different scenarios to protect public health.

Reviewing organisational issues, the Cabinet approved the restructuring of the board of the Emirates General Petroleum Corporation, chaired by Minister of State for Financial Affairs Obaid Humaid Al Tayer.

On the international level, the Cabinet ratified a number of international agreements to boost economic and technical cooperation.