Thursday, Oct 20, 2016

Dubai: Within the next five years, Dubai will have a new dialysis centre at Al Barsha, a comprehensive mental health strategy, a comprehensive genetic mapping programme to understand how diseases develop, new medical clinics with super specialities, and a unification of each patient’s health record.

These are among the 98 dynamic initiatives the Dubai Health Authority (DHA) is working on in its Health Strategy 2016-2021, said a top official on the sidelines of Gitex Technology Week.

Humaid Al Qutami, chairman of the Board and director-general of the DHA, told Gulf News: “The strategy is extremely comprehensive, is in line with international best practices and has been chalked out after a clear understanding of the gaps and strengths of the current health sector in Dubai. As and when the initiatives are implemented, we will begin to see their positive impact on patients, health-care professionals, facilities and the overall health sector in Dubai.”

Speaking exclusively to Gulf News on DHA’s Health Strategy road map, Dr Mohammad Al Redha, executive director of DHA’s Organisational Transformation (OT) Department, said: “The DHA’s health strategy is very patient-centric and also takes care of the health-care provider. We are on track with its implementation. Right now, we are working on 98 initiatives under 15 programmes divided into immediate, medium- and long-term sections. The immediate programmes like implementation of Telemedicine Robo Doc, 3D printing strategy and the Salama Electronic Medical Record for all government hospitals will be implemented next year. We have already launched eight apps which are doing very well, a number far higher than any other health authority in the UAE. We have begun the ground work for the medium-term and long-term plans in order to ensure that the strategy is implemented over the next five years. We are absolutely confident of achieving our goals.”

DHA’s Health Strategy 2016-2021 at a glance

1. Care model innovation programme

Initiatives under this:

3D printing

Telemedicine

Launch of new health apps

Data and technology (medical informatics) programme, which includes a DHA-wide patient-medical record project.

2. Prevention and healthy lifestyle programme

Initiatives under this:

School Health Policy and Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) policy

Genetic mapping and social prescribing — DHA researchers are working on a project to understand how genetics play a role in disease manifestation. After the research is complete, they will incorporate the results and conclusions into the complete health spectrum, from prevention strategies to primary care, extended care and lifestyle modification.

3. Public health and safety programme

This focuses on how to create healthy indoor and outdoor environments. This includes occupational health and safety as well as home health and safety.

4. Primary care programme

Initiatives under this:

Focus on urgent-care model across primary health-care centres: After the successful implementation of the 24-hour urgent care facilities in Al Barsha and Nad Al Hamar health centres, the DHA is working on initiatives to see how it can be implemented across other primary health-care centres.

Dental care: Child health dental sessions were expanded to 5,000 sessions per year in 2016

Mental and behavioural disorders: The DHA is working on a complete mental health strategy

5. Medical tourism programme

Under this, the medical tourism insurance, patient-protection plan and other such measures are being implemented to o ensure patient safety and further bolster the Dubai Medical Tourism initiative.

5. Chronic disease management programme

Focus on speciality centres: A new DHA-run dialysis speciality centre will be built in Al Barsha

By Suchitra Bajpai Chaudhary Senior Reporter

Gulf News 2016. All rights reserved.