Dubai, United Arab Emirates, 29 April, 2015: The Dubai Health Authority has launched an application that is smart-device friendly to assist the DHA Health Regulation Team to manage, organize and conduct facility and professional inspections.

The new solution transforms the current e-Inspection to Smart Inspection by providing smart features like digital signatures, evidence capture by image or video, offline inspection data entering, synchronizing data and uses techniques like QR Code Scanning and NFC (Near Field Communication) which helps completely digitize the manner in which inspections are conducted.

Dr Layla Al Marzouqi, Director of Health Regulation and Dubai Medical Tourism project, said: "In line with the Smart Government initiative launched by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, we are keen to move towards total IT solutions to ensure the functioning of the health sector using smart technology. The smart inspection system is completely paperless, efficient and highly convenient."

Al Marzouqi added that inspectors conduct inspections through their android devices and since the system is synchronized more than one inspector can conduct inspections in different areas of the health  facility and the report will be presented in totality. Moreover, facility representatives are provided with the inspection report which ensures complete transparency.

Al Marzouqi said that all notifications are now online including violations and fines which are issued on-the-spot using e-signatures and the facility or healthcare provider gets an immediate notification via e-mail.

Amani Al Jassmi, Director of Information Technology at the DHA, said: " The in-house designed and developed app has several useful features which ensures both a paperless environment and complete transparency.   The app is designed in such a way that it works in an offline mode as well which ensures that it can be used in any place where wireless coverage is not available."

Al Jassmi added that the smart inspection system is connected to DHA's Sheryan system, which is an online health licensing system that allows healthcare professionals and facilities to apply for a license or renew their license to practice medicine in Dubai. Therefore all the data about health professionals and health facilities is synchronized and available online. 

Al Jassmi said the DHA is moving towards the smart health roadmap so that patients have access to vital health information on their fingertips and health facilities can use smart technology to improve management as well as patient outcomes.

About the Dubai Health Authority:
The Dubai Health Authority (DHA) was created, in June 2007, by Law 13 issued by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE, Ruler of Dubai, with an expanded vision to include strategic oversight for the complete health sector in Dubai and enhance private sector engagement. His Highness Sheikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai and UAE Minister of Finance is the President of the Dubai Health Authority and His Excellency Engineer Essa Al Maidoor is the Director-General of the DHA.

The DHA's aim in Dubai is to provide an accessible, effective and integrated healthcare system, protect public health and improve the quality of life within the Emirate. This is a direct translation of the objectives of the Dubai Strategic Plan 2015 launched by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum. Keeping the strategic plan in mind, the DHA's mission is to ensure access to health services, maintain and improve the quality of these services, improve the health status of nationals, residents and visitors and oversee a dynamic, efficient and innovative health sector.

In addition to overseeing the health sector for the Emirate of Dubai, the DHA also focuses on providing services through DHA healthcare facilities including hospitals (Latifa, Dubai, Rashid and Hatta), specialty centres (e.g. the Dubai Diabetes Center) and DHA primary health centres spread throughout the Emirate of Dubai.

The main pillars of service delivery at DHA health facilities are quality, efficiency, patients and staff.  It is our aim to maintain and improve the quality and efficiency of DHA health services. An important aspect of the service delivery strategy is to focus on patients, their needs and satisfaction as well as attract, retain, nurture and support outstanding staff.

Prior to the establishment of the DHA, the Department of Health and Medical Services (DOHMS), which was established in 1973, was the functioning authority that almost exclusively focused on health service delivery.

© Press Release 2015