Complementing its healthcare programme for senior citizens and individuals with chronic diseases, DoH: 160 healthcare facilities and over 2,700 doctors accessible via the Remote Healthcare Platform

 The Department of Health - Abu Dhabi (DoH) revealed that 36,000 people have downloaded the Remote Care Application and that more than 7500 virtual consultations were carried out within three months via the platform. The aim of the platform is to ensure that all members of the community have access to healthcare services and medication according to their treatment plans without visiting a doctor. Additionally, the Remote Healthcare Platform saw users book more than 36,000 appointments online. 

As part of its healthcare programme for senior citizens and individuals with chronic diseases, DoH highlighted that it is conducting home visits under the supervision of the Abu Dhabi Public Health Centre, along with the National Screening Programme team, targeting individuals who are most vulnerable to complications from coronavirus. The programme is targeting these specific groups in order to maintain their health, build bridges of communication with them, and introduce them to the Remote Healthcare Platform. 

Dr. Hamed Al Hashemi, Director of Strategy Division at DoH, said: "With the unwavering efforts and the solidarity of our partners, we continue our mission with persistence and determination to ensure the health and safety of all members of society and, ultimately, to fight this pandemic. The field visits being conducted to the homes of individuals who are most vulnerable to complications from COVID-19 come in line with our responsibility to preserve their health and ensure they are facilitated access to services aimed at keeping them safe during these uncertain times." 

Dr. Hamed Al Hashemi explained that the ten most requested specialties through the platform included, respectively: paediatrics, internal medicine, dermatology, gynaecology, obstetrics, endocrinology, urology, family medicine, general medicine and speech therapy for children.

Dr. Omniyat Al Hajri, Director of the Public Health Division at ADPHC, said: "The Remote Healthcare platform allows all patients to access high-quality video conferencing sessions and provides them with medical advice from the safety of their homes. The application is in line with our commitment to ensuring that the elderly and individuals with chronic diseases have access to high quality healthcare services. The platform also provides access to a range of preliminary medical diagnostic services and necessary medical guidance, in addition to support for people with chronic diseases, senior citizens and residents." 

"A dedicated team of healthcare professionals will provide the elderly people and individuals with chronic diseases with the necessary remote healthcare services and follow up and monitor their condition on an ongoing basis", She added.

The Remote Healthcare platform offers a range of virtual services to ensure the health and safety of all members of society, particularly individuals more susceptible to illnesses, allowing them to access diagnostic services, virtual medical consultations, as well as obtaining and renewing medical prescriptions when needed, in addition to other medical services.

More than 4,400 check-ups have been conducted through the AI-powered "Symptom Check" tool, which is one of the key features offered by the platform. 

DoH calls on all members of society to download the application and use the services, which enable them to continue following their remedial plans remotely, thereby allowing them to maintain the health and well-being of their families and the community.

DoH had collaborated with Injazat Data Systems to launch the Remote Healthcare Platform for smartphones, allowing users easy and safe access to preliminary medical diagnostic services, information and guidelines. The application is available in both English and Arabic for iOS and Android smart phones and devices.