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- DHA announced the launch of the ‘DentOral’ programme as part of the Dubai Health Strategy 2016-2021.
- DentOral will focus on four main initiatives: developing awareness programmes in dental and oral health, developing oral health prevention and screening programmes, developing and launching the Dubai dental protocol and developing innovative solutions for the delivery of dental services and treatment.
Dubai, UAE: The Dubai Health Authority (DHA) launched a city-wide dental and oral programme to improve oral health in Dubai, by ensuring all individuals have access to high quality dental treatments and effective prevention programmes.
His Excellency Humaid Al Qutami, Director General of the DHA announced the launch of the ‘DentOral’ programme as part of the Dubai Health Strategy 2016-2021 on Monday at the authority’s headquarters.
The programme will be implemented by DHA’s Dental Services Department, in partnership with OCSHI Solutions and Services and the Health Innovation Advisory and through the guidance of DHA’s Organizational Transformation Office.
DentOral—also known as programme 5— will focus on four main initiatives: developing awareness programmes in dental and oral health, developing oral health prevention and screening programmes, developing and launching the Dubai dental protocol and developing innovative solutions for the delivery of dental services and treatment.
Worldwide, according to the World Health Organization (WHO), 60 to 90 per cent of school children and nearly 100 per cent of adults have dental cavities. Meanwhile, the most common oral and dental diseases include dental cavities, periodontal disease, tooth loss and oral cancer.
By implementing ‘DentOral’, the DHA aims to reduce the prevalence of such diseases through five main methods: prevention, early access, treatment, clinical excellence and efficiency.
Al Qutami commended the programme adding that it will provide a distinctive preventive model for a health problem that significantly affects schoolchildren and adults around the world according to WHO, which also links oral health to many chronic and dangerous diseases.
He added that the authority has made a significant progress in oral and dental health and has taken the lead in providing dental clinics with the best equipment such as 3D printing technology, which has led to a real breakthrough in the prevention and treatment of oral and dental diseases and elevated the quality of medical services, provided to customers.
Dr Hamda Al Mesmar Director of Dental Services at the DHA said focusing on these five methods have proven effective. She revealed that the DHA was able to reduce the prevalence of dental carries from 65.1 per cent in 2014 to 60.17 per cent in 2018 by launching 96 dental campaigns that focused on prevention, early access, treatment, clinical excellence and efficiency. She added that the authority aims to reduce this prevalence to 57 per cent by 2021.
“As part of DentOral, we will develop a comprehensive health education programme, including educating school children and their parents on how to look after their teeth through proper brushing, having a healthy diet and regular visits to the dentist. We will also enhance our services for the elderly, pregnant mothers and people of determination to ensure global standards of dental Care and wellbeing for all,” said Dr Al Mesmar.
She added that the Dental Services Department will also work closely on addressing populations with or at risk of conditions such as diabetes and other chronic diseases—that have a close link with dental and oral health—and enhance the preventive and educational aspect of these elements.
She revealed that implementing this programme will standardize dental and clinical practice in Dubai, strengthen links between dental care and pediatrics, antenatal care and care for the elderly, as well as enhance efficiency of dental teams and help transform the national and oral and dental care framework, to name a few.
Dr Mesmar also stressed that the programme’s oral and dental prevention aspect will have a significant impact in reducing cost of dental and oral health treatment, as a UK study found that spending AED5 on fluoride varnish decreased dental and oral treatment cost by 11AED in five years, 13AED in 10 years.
The project will be implemented in five phases, the outcomes include developing an integrated multi-layered health promotion programme, developing a dental health screening framework in schools, maternity and in older adults, conducting dental health needs assessment to identify gaps and opportunities for improvement. It will also gather provider experience on current gaps and future developments, develop a national dental health framework, conduct a financial analysis of the dental payment system, review and develop data reporting processes, develop a workforce development plan and develop an organization development plan and training framework.
Dr Al Mesmar concluded by stating that this project will also incorporate innovative solutions as part of the Dubai Government Strategy into various levels of oral and dental care.
“We also plan to build on existing services to have a state-of-the-art dental services covering prevention. We encourage the participation and involvement of everyone in the community who will transform the oral and dental image of the city in the coming years. Good oral hygiene and periodic visit to your dentist is essential for your well-being!”
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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
klgupta@dha.gov.ae nnnazzal@dha.gov.ae
+9714 219 7260
+9714 2197455
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