United Arab Emirates, Dubai, June 18, 2014: Dubai Health Authority's Health Data and Information Analysis Department organized today a two-day workshop to discuss how to drive health data analytics to improve community health.

The workshop known as ' DHA's First Healthcare and Data Science Workshop,' was attended by esteemed data scientists from Health Authority-Abu Dhabi(HAAD), Ministry of Health(MoH) , DHA and the GCC countries.

The initiative in line with the DHA's long-term vision to implement the Dubai Smart Healthcare Model that was launched by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, UAE Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, at Gitex 2013.

Dr Mohammed Al Redha, director of health data and information analysis department at the DHA, said: "There is no doubt that electronic integration in the health sector, directly improves efficiency, accountability and patient outcomes. The DHA is keen to provide complete support and assistance to the health sector to guide them in their electronic journey as we understand that this will directly help further strengthen the health sector and improve community health. Today's workshop discussed how to drive health data analytics including big data to discover disease patterns, trends, burdens and indicators of quality of life with an aim to use this data to device public health policies that will directly improve community health.

"In today's time, with the prevalence of chronic lifestyle diseases and other challenges facing the health sector, developing evidence-based policies is essential to seek desirable results and therefore tabulation and analysis of data is of vital importance."

He added in order to move towards a smart government it is important to be able to avail right information, at the right place, in real-time, both for doctors who are treating patients or for executives  who devise strategies or make operational decisions.

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 2014