DUBAI — The Ministry of Health and Prevention (MoHAP), recently held a webinar to introduce the features and mechanism of work of the Riayati platform to healthcare service providers. The event also witnessed the participation of representatives from hospitals and health centers in the Northern Emirates.

Riayati is a digital platform featuring updated data of patient records and providing innovative solutions in the automation and management of health information. The platform is based on a central and integrated healthcare system with easy access to patient's health data in the UAE by linking together the public and private healthcare facilities to enhance patient safety and improve the efficiency, quality, and performance in the field of population health management.

Dr. Abdul Aziz Al Zarouni, acting assistant undersecretary for the support services sector, said: “Riayati platform comprises extensive data on the UAE healthcare landscape and the quality of the services provided. The platform aims to turn the UAE’s Vision 2021 healthcare into reality, through the provision of accurate data to health insurance providers, universities, and researchers, while maintaining the highest standards of privacy and confidentiality.”

Dr. Al Zarouni affirmed the Ministry’s keenness to offer accurate health data to healthcare service providers so that they can deliver high-quality and real-time care and treatment and help transform the UAE’s healthcare landscape into a better reality.

Mubaraka Ibrahim, director of health information systems, MoHAP, said Riayati is a patient-centric platform with an aim to provide better services to society and improve the health and wellbeing of individuals.

“Riayati is featuring updated health data for each patient, including the medical history, medications, and the length of stay in hospitals. This helps facilitate the transfer of patients between public and private hospitals and health clinics and allows smooth exchange of medical records and data, thus ensuring the provision of a seamless patient care experience and saving time and expenses, as well as improving the quality of healthcare across the country,” she added.

She lauded the remarkable participation of service providers in the event, something that indicates their dedication and commitment to the cooperation with the state’s health authorities to deliver the best healthcare services to community members.

Dr. Kalthoum Al Baloushi, director of MoHAP’s Hospitals Administration, shed light on the importance of the clinical objectives of the Riayati platform, adding: “To get the most out of the platform, the patient care experience should be improved by reducing errors and duplication of medical records, enhancing disease surveillance and cost efficiency through automation, among other things.

“This would help medical and administrative staff make better clinical decisions, save time, improve healthcare expenditure management, and achieve better health outcomes, with the engagement of community members.”

The webinar included a comparison between collecting health data and exchanging information at present and the distinct advantages provided by the Riayati platform to health care providers. Additionally, the technical team gave a presentation on how healthcare providers can use the platform and the initial approach to preparing and supporting the change management process, through the use of advanced technologies to improve health care services and increase access to patient’s health data.

Riayati is a national platform for health information exchange (HIE) in the UAE by connecting public and private hospitals and clinics and more than 2,500 other healthcare facilities, including clinics, diagnostic centers, dialysis centers, and pharmacies. The platform is linked to other affiliate medical records (including 'Nabidh' and 'Malaffi') to form a central database for exchanging public health information in real-time.

To ensure the completion of a unified, integrated, and digital national medical record for health care in the UAE, the Riayati platform is linked to the services of the Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship. The Ministry also launched the “Post Office” initiative as part of the National Unified Medical Records “Riayati” to enable a seamless exchange of insurance claims between healthcare facilities and insurance companies. — SG