ABU DHABI, 24th October, 2023 (WAM) — Malaffi, the Health Information Exchange (HIE) platform of the Department of Health – Abu Dhabi (DoH), in collaboration with the Ministry of Health and Prevention (MOHAP), announce the completion of a new phase of integration with the federal HIE, Riayati. This step enables Malaffi’s clinical users to access patient information recorded during their visits to healthcare facilities in the Northern Emirates, reflecting the continued progress of the UAE’s digital transformation strategy to enable better information sharing and improving patient outcomes in the healthcare sector.
This milestone follows the initial integration of the three HIE platforms announced earlier this year (Malaffi, Riayati and Nabidh), which granted Riayati users access to Malaffi data, enhancing their ability to deliver timely and high-quality care to patients.
The extended integration between Malaffi and Riayati, now allowing Malaffi users to access patient records from the Northern Emirates, further strengthens the quality of healthcare and reinforces the continuity of patient care across the UAE. It marks an important achievement and a substantial leap forward in the digital transformation of the country’s healthcare system.
Riayati currently collates a total of 2.7 billion medical records representing 11.6 million patients from over 3,850 medical facilities across the country, connected through Riayati.
As part of the efforts to fully integrate the health information exchange platforms on a federal level, the next phase will enable users to access data available on Malaffi and Nabidh through Riayati, expanding access nationwide regardless of the geographical location.
For his part, Ahmed Al Dashti, Assistant Undersecretary for the Support Services Sector at MoHAP, emphasized that the broadening scope of integration, marked by a new phase of connecting “Riayati” with Malaffi platform, reflects the UAE’s clear vision and strategy aimed at achieving comprehensive integration within its healthcare system. “We will spare no effort to bolster ongoing efforts to promote the quality and efficacy of health service provision,” Al Dashti added.
He highlighted that such a milestone represents an integral part of the broader digital transformation currently underway in the country’s healthcare sector that will not only upgrade the patient experience, and ensure the long-term sustainability of healthcare services, but also fortify security and confidentiality measures in the management of health data, thereby safeguarding patient privacy.
Dr. Noura Al Ghaithi, Undersecretary of the Department of Health – Abu Dhabi (Do), said: “Malaffi plays an integral role in further positioning Abu Dhabi as a leading destination for healthcare globally. We continue to work in unison with our partners at MOHAP and DHA to provide our healthcare workforce with the necessary means that support them in delivering quality care to patients. While Health Information Exchange platforms enable healthcare facilities to provide community members with world-class services efficiently, they are also the cornerstone to decision making, setting policies and learning more about the healthcare needs of our community.”
Kareem Shahin, Acting CEO of Abu Dhabi Health Data Services (the operator of Malaffi), commented, “As the first and leading HIE in the MENA region, we’re committed to fostering an environment that supports comprehensive, patient-centered care across the UAE. With Malaffi housing almost 2 bn unique clinical records from Abu Dhabi, we are now excited to enable our users to access patient records outside of the Emirate in response to their continuous feedback and demand.
“This integration will offer increased peace of mind to patients who regularly travel between Abu Dhabi and the Northern Emirates, as their medical records will be accessible to their healthcare providers, regardless of the Emirate in which they are seeking care. With physicians having access to their vital medical history, they are empowered to make well-informed, timely decision-making during their healthcare journey.”
Meanwhile, Samir Al Khoury, Acting Director of the Smart Health Department at MoHAP, stated that the completion of a new phase integrating “Riayati” with the DoH’s Malaffi platform marks a significant step towards consolidating patients’ health data into a single national platform. This comes in line with our overarching goal of establishing a seamlessly interconnected healthcare system across the UAE.
Khoury went on to say that such integration not only enhances the quality of healthcare services but also ensures better health outcomes for patients. It enables healthcare professionals to make timely and well-informed decisions, ultimately contributing to more effective medical care.
He added that the “Riayati” platform isn’t merely an innovative tool designed for healthcare quality improvement. It is also envisioned to drive a significant leap in the digital transformation of the country’s health system.
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