Dubai Health Authority launches medication reminder app during UAE Innovation Week.

Dubai, United Arab Emirates, November 25, 2015:  The Dubai Health Authority (DHA) launched a medication reminder app known as ‘Dawaaee.’

The app was launched at the Authority’s Health Innovation Village at Kite Beach, where festivities are going on to mark UAE Innovation Week.

The app is free-of-cost and compatible with all platforms — Apple iOS, Google Android, Blackberry and Windows Mobile, among others. 

H.E. Humaid Al Qatami, Chairman of the Board and Director-General of the DHA, said: “DHA is keen to focus on all aspects of smart healthcare. The aim of developing several healthcare apps is to provide customers with easy access to vital information and services for their convenience and to empower them to make healthy choices and keep track of their health. The Dawaaee app will help in patient compliance as patients will receive timely reminders to take their medications. This directly helps in better treatment results. Therefore smart health is the way forward and is an important focus of the DHA.”

Dr. Ali Al Sayed, Director of the Pharmaceutical Services Department at the Dubai Health Authority said: “Forgetfulness due to busy lifestyles is one of the top reasons people miss their medication. Therefore, we wanted to help patients remember to take their medications by leveraging the capabilities of a smart phone, smart watch etc. so that it is convenient for them and fits into their daily routine. The Dawaaee app has a host of features, is extremely easy to use and will provide patients with convenience and hassle-free medication management options.”

Al Sayed said that the app auto-imports a patient’s current medication list if the patient has a registered file with any of the DHA hospitals and health centres.  If the patient visits private healthcare providers, they need to feed the information in, which is also quite simple and takes just a couple of minutes.

The app allows patients to create custom reminders based on location, activity or time to more naturally fit into their routine.

Al Sayed said: “The app also provides re-fill reminders five days prior to the date of refill so that the patient can pick up the next stock of medication from the pharmacy. This ensures continuity and no unnecessary break in the medication course.”

Another feature that is particularly useful in this region is the family profile option.  Al Sayed said: “A lot of elderly parents live with their children in the UAE and therefore we added the family option feature which enables children to add on the profile of their parents so that they get reminders for when their parents need to consume their medications. This empowers them to keep track of their parent’s medication schedule.
This feature can also be used by parents if they have a child that needs to take long-term medications.”

App users can also ask a pharmacist any question related to their medications and they will receive an answer within 24 hours