The Ministry of Health and Prevention (MoHAP) of the UAE has recently launched the ‘Public Health Management’ system to improve the health sector in the region, according to the media. The platform is developed in partnership with Etisalat and Health Matrix. Etisalat provides the Baxter ICNET, a clinical surveillance platform, and Health Matrix to manage the project governance and delivery.
The aim is to enhance the prevention and management of public health projects and promote the involvement of communities and civil society organisations in health promotion programmes. It is also planned to boost cooperation with the public and private sector.
The system works as a national platform and future database to create a health-supporting digital environment. It is also a responsive and sustainable healthcare system that uses global standards to manage health facilities infrastructure, promote public health, and prevent diseases.
The Public Health Management system plans to equip public health specialists with integrated tools to monitor and manage initiatives and activities and enhance the response to their evolving requirements. This will bring about a paradigm shift in the healthcare system.
Dr Hussein Abdul Rahman Al Rand, Assistant Undersecretary of Health Centres and Clinics Sector, told the media that the Public Health Management system is part of the ministry’s strategy to enhance community health and healthy behaviours. It will improve the interaction between patients and health practitioners to be aware of their disease and deal with it. In addition, it will enhance the proactively remote patient follow-up.
The centralised database of the system lets the frontline health service providers and public health decision-makers access essential information to improve health outcomes and rationalise healthcare spending. Rapid and accurate reporting of contagious diseases can also be tracked with the platform.