Ministry of Health and Prevention successfully holds workshop covering the study of creating an improved unified national database of patient records

UAE, 24 December, 2016 - The Ministry of Health and Prevention (MOHAP) has successfully hosted a recent workshop covering the study of creating an improved unified national database of patient records in the UAE. The event, which was organized in coordination with the Abu Dhabi Health Authority (ADHA), the Dubai Health Authority (DHA), the Emirates Identity Authority (EIDA), Medical Services of the Armed Forces and Pure Health with the chief aim of creating and facilitating a better patient transfer process and a smoother flow of exchanging a patient's medical information between public and private hospitals as well as health clinics. The move is expected to ensure advanced patient care while also saving on time and costs and improve the level and quality of health care throughout the country.  

One of the recommendations made is the proposal to use a patient's national or emirates ID number as a unified reference for a central database containing all health and medical data. The adoption of this recommendation, along with the creation of the template of the necessary forms will be applied and implemented in the next four years and is expected to be fully adopted by all of UAE's health and medical facilities in 2021.  

His Excellency (H.E.) Awad Sagher Al Ketbi, Assistant Undersecretary, Support Services Sector, MOHAP, explained that the proposed unified national medical record project is aimed towards developing a unified database of patients that can help in effecting improved health care, wider patients engagement and secure key details of each patient’s medical records--all in accordance with the highest international standards and best practices. 

Meanwhile, Ali Juma Al Ajme, Director, Information Technology Department, MOHAP, shared that the national unified medical record project is being positioned as a digital health platform that provides updated data for patient records like medical history, the period of hospitalization and the type of medication that has been prescribed to the patient, which can help avoid medical errors that may occur. The initiative falls in line with the strategic objectives being run by the Ministry.

Mubaraka Mubarak Ali Ibrahim, Director for Health Information Systems, MOHAP, said that the project will contribute in unifying all medical records across all health facilities in the country and will play a great role in improving the quality of health care and patient safety. She stressed that the database can help in assessing performance, better automate the health care system, ensure a smoother flow of digital information and save previous medical history for the patient—creating a way to make better clinical decisions by providing the correct records and ensuring quick access to it while saving time and cost, which will result in better health outcomes through the involvement of individuals, families and health care.

A representative from Pure Health noted that the launch of the National Unified Medical Record (NUMR) project will revolutionize the UAE’s healthcare sector. NUMR’s role is not limited to integrating all public and private medical records within a modern and efficient platform, it will also improve patient experience through community health management, and it will be synonymous with leading health service providers. Furthermore, this system will put UAE on the map with regards to global innovation in the electronic advancement of the health care industry in line with the strategic vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, as part of the National Agenda.