Dubai Health Authority’s (DHA) Doctor for Every Citizen telemedicine service has provided more than 20,000 coronavirus related consultations in the past year.
In total, it provided 83,000 telemedicine consultations from January 2020 to last month, out of which 7,251 were medical consultations for Covid-19 patients and 13,437 were Covid-19 related consultations such as queries on vaccination eligibility and screening procedures.
DHA launched the 24/7 Doctor for Every Citizen initiative in 2019 as part of the Fifty-Year Charter launched by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai.
Dr Manal Taryam, CEO of Primary Healthcare at the DHA said that the service has been expanded in light of the demands relating to the global pandemic.
She said that the number of doctors working on the service has increased from 10 to 52 while the DHA has also increased the number of stations used for virtual consultations from six to 16.
Taryam said the health authority plans to add more services to the telemedicine initiative including a diabetic clinic, occupational clinic, smoking cessation clinic and geriatric clinic.
Dr Manal Taryam, CEO of Primary Healthcare at the DHA
Taryam added: “Covid-19 patients require medical guidance, support and counselling during their home-isolation period to ensure they stay on track in terms of their health and to ensure that those who may need further tests, investigations or even emergency care receive the right guidance based on their symptoms.
“Telemedicine is an important tool to safely provide this service to patients and reassure them during their home-isolation period.”
“This initiative will empower DHA’s drive towards the use of latest digital technology to improve patient care, enhance efficiencies in the health sector and better support medical professionals as well as provide patients with added convenience and comfort,” she said.
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