Technology and healthcare have blended in to pave the way for various advancements in the healthcare sector. In today’s I.T era, Telehealth is used for remote consultations, medical education, and better-equipping professionals with skills and knowledge. Telehealth offers a variety of benefits to many communities including, an increase in distant admissions, a decrease in commuting for healthcare, reduced operational costs, and additional support for healthcare providers. In the Arab countries, there is a broad spectrum of differences observed in terms of available healthcare amenities, despite the regions sharing a common culture.
Oil-rich countries like Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates have favorable conditions for growth, whereas countries such as Syria, Yemen, and Palestine suffer famines, conflicts, and poverty. This difference is a major setback for poor nations when accessing healthcare facilities. Advances in digital solutions such as Telehealth have the potential to shorten the gap between these countries. It has been observed that the GCC nations have made large investments in healthcare and Telehealth. Bahrain has invested in building the Dilmunia Health District on a man-made island, while Oman is currently developing the International Medical City and is working constantly towards creating the best-in-class infrastructure and state-of-the-art technologies.
Steps Taken To Increase Telehealth Services In The UAE
- In 2019, the federal medical liability law was issued in the UAE. The law discusses the terms and conditions for offering Telehealth services in UAE, which solidify the permissibility level and parameters for providing such services on a federal level.
- After the Covid-19 outbreak, Dubai saw a rise in the provision of telehealth services. Since 2020, telehealth service providers in hospitals and medical centers have started offering a 360-degree solution with the help of a regulation-compliant health information system (HIS).
- The UAE Ministry Of Health And Prevention (MoHaP) initiated the international telemedicine services in 2020, in which they helped both the patients and doctors to receive second opinion consultations remotely in scenarios involving cases of critical health.
Source: Telehealth: Is it the Future of Healthcare in the MENA Region? – DUPHAT.
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