Ministry of Health launches group of ‘smart' solutions for enhanced patient services at Gitex 2015

UAE, October 18, 2015 – The Ministry of Health launched a group of smart services during GITEX Technology Week 2015 which will be held from October 18 to 22, 2015 at the Dubai World Trade Center, UAE.

H.E. Awad Al Katbi, the Ministry’s Assistant Undersecretary for Support Services, commended the importance of GITEX as a strategic platform for showcasing the latest smart services, pointing that the Ministry offers smart services in support of the vision of H.H. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai. 

H.E. Al Katbi said:  “We look forward to employing these smart tools in the best ways to save the time and effort of patients and allow them to enjoy world-class services. They are our own contributions to the shift towards a smart government and the development of the UAE as one of the best countries in the world.”

The Assistant Undersecretary added that the Ministry plans to develop ‘smart’ versions of all its services, noting that it successfully launched 300 administrative service in 2015. He also revealed that the latest smart services were developed as part of the Ministry’s efforts to enhance the health of individuals and society in general, improve healthcare, enhance communication between patients, hospitals and health centers, and unify patient data and connect them nationally. This, he said, guarantees the provision of comprehensive services in a sustainable and healthy environment. 

The Smart Patient Portal provide the public with a highly secure website for viewing their health records and checking laboratory results, documents, vaccination, medicine, and health problems, among others. Users can also browse through details of their upcoming appointments with the option of linking the schedule to their personal calendars and other accounts.

Mubaraka M. Ali Ibrahim, Director, Health Information Systems Department, Ministry of Health said: “The user-friendly Smart Patient Portal can be accessed through various smart devices. Medical results appear in the portal as soon as the system passes on the medical analysis from health centers and Ministry hospitals. Users can download reports and files for reference or for printing and even manage the accounts of their children less than 18 years of age by providing their identity. Elders can manage the accounts of family members upon approval.

The Smart Patient Portal is accessible via the internet and can only be availed of by patients registered in health centers and hospitals. Patients can show their ID card when visiting any hospital or health center, provide the registration office with their email address and the last four (4) digits of their Emirates ID, and then wait for an invitation to be sent to their email account inviting them to participate in the portal. The patient is expected to accept the invitation, fill in the required information, and create a user name and password.

Among the services launched by the Ministry of Health this year is the Crowd Medicine that allows Hajj and Umrah campaigns to cancel or accept doctor’s campaign and their assistants, open medical reports, and provide access to field visits to inspectors. The service also evaluates the performance of doctors and the health status of pilgrims and can conduct a survey on the performance of doctors as well as medical services offered. 

The Ministry also launched a health education system that allows external parties to direct to the implementation of educational programs and activities and provide educational materials, in addition to a Sick Leave Attestation System that certifies sick leaves issued by the private sector without the need to communicate with the Ministry of Health’s client service centers.