In collaboration with Injazat Data Systems, the Department of Health – Abu Dhabi (DoH) recently announced the launch of a new digital platform, ‘Remote Healthcare’ App for smartphones that allows users easy and safe access to preliminary medical diagnostic services, information and guidelines.
This comes in line with DoH’s efforts to maintain the safety and well-being of all members of society and provide them with the necessary healthcare services without having to physically visit healthcare facilities.
The application provides the necessary medical support to people with chronic diseases, the elderly, and those in need of medical prescriptions and wish to not visit hospitals given the current situation, as well as those who have been infected with COVOD-19 and are under home isolation.
The application features an Artificial Intelligence-driven tool for examining symptoms and diagnosing non-emergency cases, as well as a system for booking appointments and remote consultations with doctors via voice or video calls or texts, as well as, medical prescriptions and logistics services.
Shaikh Abdullah bin Mohammed Al Hamed, Chairman of DoH, said, "This launch comes in line with our ongoing efforts to curb the spread of the new coronavirus, COVID-19, and ensure the safety and well-being of all members of the community. The Department of Health – Abu Dhabi continues to work closely with all relevant authorities in the UAE to further improve the health sector services.
"Through this initiative, we are keen to harness the power of Artificial Intelligence and bolster the digital infrastructure of the healthcare sector and provide a comprehensive digital platform that allows access medical support and guidance to all members of the society."
Features
Through the new application, users can obtain medical support and advice and get access to diagnostic services for non-emergency situations while at home, through healthcare facilities in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi that are available on the application and are regularly being updated.
People who have been infected with COVID-19 and are required to stay under home isolation can also benefit from the app, by reaching out to a specialised medical team of doctors, nurses and healthcare professional, who will provide all the necessary healthcare support remotely, and closely monitor the patient’s situation until they are fully recovered.
In addition to that, DoH will ensure providing the patients will all the necessary precautionary guidelines and all essential supplies that they might need while they are under home isolation.
The app will enable doctors to communicate remotely with their patients to provide consultations. It allows registered users to book and manage their appointments, and request for prescriptions online. These prescriptions will be assigned to pharmacies that will deliver medicines directly to patients via online channels, upon obtaining the approval of insurance companies. The app is available on Android and iOS devices, in both Arabic and English language.
DoH launches new digital platform
DoH also recently launched a new digital platform that allows clinical staff from across the UAE to volunteer their support or apply to work for the emirate’s healthcare sector. The volunteers can now register online through the portal called the Abu Dhabi Health Workforce Management System and highlight their key skillsets to provide support to the sector’s facilities in the emirate.
Healthcare facilities in the emirate will be able to log on the portal, review the profiles of registered staff, and communicate with them directly. Using the platform, facilities will be able to assign the volunteers the right roles based on their skillsets and preferred conditions for employment. DoH called upon all healthcare providers and staff who are able to offer their support, to register for free using the portal, to volunteer or work full-time or part-time.
DoH has identified a number of categories for which volunteers can register to their support through the online portal. These categories include full or part-time workers in a clinic or hospital in the region that are willing to work additional hours; those who hold an eligibility letter or have previously passed DoH’s healthcare exam; clinical experts who have completed the procedures of dataflow or have obtained a medical license from the Dubai Health Authority (DHA) or the Ministry of Health and Prevention (MOHAP); retired healthcare workers who wish to return to medicine; volunteers who are licensed to work in the healthcare sector; volunteers who wish to obtain a license to practice medicine in Abu Dhabi.
Dr. Jamal Al Kaabi Acting Undersecretary of DoH commented: “The past few months have seen clinical cadres of various clinical disciplines make exceptional sacrifices for the safety and well-being of the Abu Dhabi community. These clinicians have worked tirelessly and with an unwavering commitment to protect the safety of all members of society coping with the spread of the COVID-19 virus. In line with DoH’s vision to continue working towards ensuring the delivery of comprehensive, continuous and timely healthcare services to locals and residents in Abu Dhabi, we have established the volunteer platform that provides an opportunity for healthcare staff who are willing to supplement these efforts by volunteering their time and expertise.”
Al Kaabi continued: “We appreciate the efforts made by clinical personnel in the sector to provide the community with the necessary healthcare services whilst also enhancing the quality of services and ensuring a high level of safety for all members of the Abu Dhabi community. We look forward to providing the public with all the necessary support as part of our precautionary plans to ensure that the local sector remains fully committed to respond to the spread of COVID-19 virus.”