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- The outpatient satisfaction rate increased from 69 per cent to 94 per cent in 2018.
- By implementing this initiative, DHA saved 3.48 million in 2 years, and pharmacists’ happiness increased from 73.5 per cent to 85 per cent.
- These smart pharmacies are operated via a robot that can store up to 35,000 medicines, prepare 12 prescriptions in a minute and dispense 8,000 medicines in an hour.
- 36 million items were barcoded and integrated within the formulary smart app resulting in zero dispensing errors in 2017 and 2018.
Dubai, UAE: The Dubai Health Authority (DHA) launched on Monday its fifth smart pharmacy in Nadd Al Hamar primary healthcare centre for dispensing and prescribing medication.
This is the first smart pharmacy inaugurated in a DHA primary healthcare centre.
Earlier this year, the authority launched two smart pharmacies at Rashid Hospital, one in Latifa hospital and one in Dubai Hospital as part of its fully integrated system for pharmaceutical transactions.
The DHA’s fully integrated system, which has been nominated in the Hamdan bin Mohammed Programme for Smart Government this year, includes the five smart pharmacies for dispensing and prescribing medication through a unified barcoding system.
So far around 36 million items were barcoded and integrated within the formulary smart app, which resulted in zero dispensing errors in 2017 and 2018.
These smart pharmacies reduced the waiting time to an average of 2.6 minutes, hence increasing the time allocated for explaining medication instruction to an average of 5.65 minutes.
Also by reducing the processing time from 22.5 minutes on average in 2016 to 7.9 minutes in 2018, the outpatient satisfaction rate increased from 69 per cent in 2016 to 94 per cent in 2018.
By implementing this initiative, DHA saved 3.48 million in 2 years, and pharmacists’ happiness increased from 73.5 per cent in 2016 to 85 per cent in 2017.
These smart pharmacies are operated via a robot that can store up to 35,000 medicines, prepare 12 prescriptions in a minute and dispense 8,000 medicines in an hour. The system is also fully integrated with SALAMA EPIC EMR.
The DHA is the first government authority in the region to implement the SMART Barcoding system.
Its benefits includes eliminating medication errors and combating counterfeit medicines as it can track, trace and recall any medicine distributed throughout the DHA .
It also includes a SMART cold chain management system, which gives voice alerts and text messages if temperature exceeds limit
His Excellency Humaid Al Qutami, Director General of the DHA, inaugurated the smart pharmacy at Nadd Al Hamar Primary Healthcare Centre on Monday.
Commenting on the inauguration Al Qutami said by adopting a fully integrated smart system for its pharmaceutical transactions in DHA hospitals and health centers, the DHA has made important strides in providing quality services related to the provision of medicine that are based to the latest international safety standards.
He revealed that the authority plans to adopt smart pharmacies in all its hospitals and primary healthcare centres.
He stressed that the DHA is keen to enable the Primary Healthcare Sector to provide the best services to patients especially due to its pivotal role in providing prevention and early detection plans and quality healthcare services to the community of Dubai
To vote for the DHA’s smart pharmacy initiative in the Hamdan bin Mohammed Programme for Smart Government visit http://vote.dtmc.gov.ae/
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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.
Prior to the establishment of the DHA, the Department of Health and Medical Services, which was established in 1973, was the functioning authority that almost exclusively focused on health service delivery.
In May 2018, H.H Sheikh Mohammed, issued Law No. (6) Of 2018 of the DHA. The new Law further enables the DHA to achieve its objectives including regulating medical services in Dubai, enhancing competiveness and transparency, improving medical services and products based on international best practices and achieving the sector’s objectives according to approved strategic plans.
According to the Law, DHA will ensure the availability of quality medical insurance programmes, improve medical services according to the highest international standards, contribute to providing attractive infrastructure for investments, boost Dubai’s position as a global hub for medical tourism and medical education, encourage innovation in the healthcare sector and improve preventive healthcare measures.
The Law specified DHA’s responsibilities to include preparing a comprehensive strategic plan for Dubai’s healthcare sector, conducting studies and surveys to define Dubai’s future needs and matching the results with future investments, licensing and monitoring medical workers and medical facilities according to DHA’s approved regulations. Its responsibilities also include regulating medical education and medical research in collaboration with competent local and international authorities and drafting and developing policies and procedures for the healthcare sector in Dubai.
The Law authorises DHA to regulate and approve the prices of medical services offered by private healthcare facilities in Dubai and ensure the quality of medical services. DHA is also responsible for regulating and facilitating the sending of patients for specialised medical treatment to healthcare facilities both within and outside the country, regulating and overseeing medical tourism in collaboration with concerned authorities, managing and developing policies that govern medical insurance and regulating medical advertising in Dubai.
H.H Sheikh Mohammed also issued Decree No. 17 of 2018 establishing subsidiaries of the DHA: the Dubai Healthcare Corporation and Dubai Health Insurance Corporation to further enhance healthcare services in Dubai and enable DHA to fulfil its responsibilities and obligations.
Three new strategic sectors were also added as part of the decree; they include Strategy and Corporate Development, Health Regulation, and Shared Support Services.
In addition to overseeing the health sector for the Emirate of Dubai, the DHA also focuses on providing services through DHA healthcare facilities including Latifa, Dubai, Rashid and Hatta Hospitals, its 12 primary healthcare centres, 17 medical fitness centres and its 6 specialty centres.
For more information, visit DHA’s website: www.dha.gov.ae
For further information, please contact:
Mahmoud Al Ali
Kamakshi Gupta and Noor Nazzal
Head of Media
Communications Analysts- Media Dept.
Dubai Health Authority
Dubai Health Authority
+9714 219 7260
+9714 2197455
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