October 28, 2020, Abu Dhabi: NYU Abu Dhabi (NYUAD) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with United Eastern Medical Services (UEMedical) in Abu Dhabi, the parent organization of Danat Al Emarat Hospital for Women & Children, HealthPlus Network of Specialty Centers, and Moorfields Eye Hospital Abu Dhabi. A major outcome of the MoU is establishing the HealthPlus Diabetes & Endocrinology Center in Abu Dhabi as one of the main clinic sites for the UAE Healthy Future Study (UAEHFS) set to accept participants from November 1, 2020.

The collaboration will also offer support on current and future research, education, innovations, and workshops in the field of health sciences. 

The MoU was signed by NYUAD Vice Chancellor Mariët Westermann and Chief Operating Officer at UEMedical Majd Abu Zant; in the presence of UEMedical’s Chief Medical Officer Dr. Sadoon Sami Sadoon; and Diabetes & Endocrinology Consultant and Director of Academic Affairs at HealthPlus Network of Specialty Centers Dr. Huda Ezzeddin Mustafa. Mandatory health and safety protocols including testing, face masks, and physical distancing were in place throughout the event.

The UAE Healthy Future Study is the first cohort study aimed at understanding the source and cause of the rising cases of obesity, diabetes, and heart disease among Emiratis. The study invites all UAE nationals, between the age of 18 and 40, to participate. Currently, the study clinics are located in Abu Dhabi Blood Bank, Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, Healthpoint, UAE University, and Latifa Hospital- Dubai Blood Donation Center.

Westermann said, “Across the disciplines, NYU Abu Dhabi is investigating and investing solutions to some of the world’s most pressing challenges, including public health concerns such as obesity, diabetes, and heart disease. The UAE Healthy Future Study is mobilizing the scholarly and scientific capabilities of our university along with great local partners such as United Eastern Medical Services towards building a healthier UAE. We are excited at the possibilities afforded by this new partnership and how we might advance our local contributions towards the health sciences.

Abu Zant stated, "We hope this MoU paves the way to a successful and collaborative partnership that will benefit our community. UEMedical delivers world-class medical services through its various Centers of Excellence, underpinned by a strong medical education and research framework. As accredited research centers by the Department of Health Abu Dhabi (DoH), Danat Al Emarat Hospital, HealthPlus and Moorfields Eye Hospital Abu Dhabi have taken part and have initiated multiple integrated clinical research projects and studies in the past 18 months, and we are truly excited to participate in the UAE Healthy Future Study. We are confident that HealthPlus Diabetes & Endocrinology Center will provide insightful data for the study. The MOU also opens the door for further collaboration with NYUAD in research, education and innovation particularly in the fields of woman and child health, fertility, eye diseases and genomics."

NYUAD, in association with its Abu Dhabi partner, Tamkeen, is funding and leading the UAE Healthy Future Study in collaboration with the Department of Health – Abu Dhabi,  Dubai Health Authority alongside SEHA – The Abu Dhabi Health Services including Sheikh Khalifa Medical City, Al Ain Regional Blood Bank, Abu Dhabi Blood Bank, Zayed Military Hospital, UAE University, Zayed University, Khalifa University, EBTIC, Higher Colleges of Technology, Healthpoint, Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, Oasis Hospital, Capital Health Screening Center, Daman, and NYU Langone School of Medicine

NYUAD Public Health Research Center Associate Director Abdishakur Abdulle stated, “Given the importance of the UAE Healthy Future Study for the nation, we have developed a partnership with various national institutions in both the public and private sectors. Today marks yet another great milestone which will enable us to work with a key partner in healthcare, namely UEMedical. In part, this collaboration will facilitate accessibility for even more public participation among the nationals of the UAE. We will continue our efforts to engage with the public and ensure that participation in the UAE Healthy Future Study is smooth and easily accessible. Results from this study will not only help improve the health of the community, but will also be in line with national objectives to build a world-class healthcare system through scientific research in understanding the causes and consequences of chronic diseases in the UAE. It is anticipated that results from this study will also help the development of better prevention and treatment strategies.”

In April 2020, UAEHFS shifted to online recruitment in response to the precautions set out by the UAE Government to protect public health and limit the spread of COVID-19. To register, study volunteers now have the opportunity to participate through an online-based platform instead of physically visiting clinics.

Dr. Huda Ezzeddin Mustafa said, “We believe that the partnership between NYUAD and UEMedical is fundamental to build strong bridges between public health and healthcare providers within a framework of academics and clinicians. The collaboration will no doubt nurture community-based medical research through our multispecialty medical services. We are truly proud to open our doors to the landmark UAE Healthy Future Study, and we trust that the UAE population have the vision and understanding of the importance of clinical research. We have learnt from the phenomenal participation of our population in COVID-19 trials that the Emirati community is capable of making informed decisions to participate, with much enthusiasm, in well-designed medical research for building a healthier future for the generations to come.”

About the UAE Healthy Future Study

The UAE Healthy Future Study is the first long-term study aimed at understanding and providing substantive evidence for environmental, lifestyle, and genetic determinants of common diseases in the UAE population, such as obesity, diabetes, and heart disease. All UAE Nationals between the ages of 18 and 40 are invited to volunteer by participating in a confidential health assessment and future follow up that will contribute to a healthier future in the UAE. www.UAEHealthyFuture.ae

24 September 2020, Abu Dhabi – UAE: United Eastern Medical Services (UEMedical) has recently introduced a new innovation in its clinical laboratory at Danat Al Emarat Hospital for Women & Children which performs over 5000 tests a day serving the group’s different medical facilities including Danat Al Emarat Hospital & Clinic, HealthPlus Network of Specialty Centers and Moorfields Eye Hospital Abu Dhabi. Partnering with Abbott– a global leader in diagnostic systems, the new solution consists of a state-of-the-art GLP Systems automation connected to various Abbott Alinity instruments to analyze different types of samples providing physicians and patients with hundreds of different analytes with high integrity, confidence and reduced turnaround time. It also utilizes the cutting-edge informatics platform from Abbott; the AlinIQ informatics portfolio. Developed exclusively for diagnostics and complete with turnkey professional services, the informatics solution has been configured uniquely for UEMedical. This combination of GLP Systems automation, Alinity instruments and AlinIQ informatics is the first ever implemented worldwide.

UEMedical invested 21 million AED to introduce this latest high-end technology to serve their patients from across the medical group with the highest healthcare standards. The new automated solution improves the overall lab operations including, but not limited to, an increased lab testing capacity, providing quick and accurate results, while maintaining the maximum uptime for the instruments.

Mr. Mariano Gonzalez, Vice Chair of the Board at Danat Al Emarat Hospital said, “Introducing new innovations and AI solutions is and will always be one of our top priorities especially during these times. We will continue to invest in bringing the best to our patients and to our clinicians. The new solution ensures more accurate diagnosis, and in a very efficient manner. Digital transformation in the healthcare sector is evolving rapidly; and will be faster post COVID-19 pandemic. Healthcare providers will need to look into solutions that will ease the patient journey inside our facilities, while upscaling our patient capacity and reducing the time needed for the results to come out. We are indeed proud to have adopted the new system of Abbott, and we have started seeing the positive impact of the solution in our laboratory department, as well as with our physicians, and our patients.”

Dr. Shweta Uppal, Chairperson of Laboratory at UEMedical Group, said, “This comes as part of our AI strategy for the upcoming years coping with worldwide healthcare system challenges and ever-changing market dynamics. This holistic solution will help managing the patient journey from the moment of ordering the tests until the results are delivered with minimum human interaction and no paper-trail. This would assure exceptional quality standards along with highest results integrity which will help aiding our goal of preserving patients’ health and wellbeing, while keeping the time needed for such procedures at the minimum.”

 “We are excited about this collaboration with UEMedical Group and Danat Al Emarat”, said Mohammad Aburub, Managing Director of Abbott’s diagnostics business in the Gulf.  “This structure will significantly help in the entire diagnosis cycle – from the moment the physician orders the tests, until the results are interpreted, and medical action is taken, because making the right decision matters, especially when it comes to patient care.”

"The confidence in the results, and the clinical decisions taken upon them, is crucial in the healthcare ecosystem.  The advantage of having a holistic solution in the emirate of Abu Dhabi, with the support of the Department of Health Abu Dhabi, gives Danat al Emarat the opportunity to serve a greater patient community in the United Arab Emirates and beyond,” Mr. Gonzalez concluded.

7 April 2020, Abu Dhabi: United Eastern Medical Services (UEMedical) in Abu Dhabi announced that HealthPlus and Danat Al Emarat Pharmacies are now licensed by the Department of Health Abu Dhabi to deliver prescription medication to patients in accordance with the medications delivery standards and guidelines published recently by the Department of Health Abu Dhabi. The standards ensure that the medicines delivered to patients are packaged correctly and delivered safely, and that patient information is secure and confidential. Patients will also receive the required counselling and education remotely by licensed pharmacists whenever necessary. The service aims to improve the patient experience and limit the burden of visiting pharmacies, especially in the current global situation of COVID-19. The group has also activated its telehealth services allowing patients to attend remote consultations with their doctors, thus eliminating the need for individuals to leave their homes unnecessarily, unless urgent care is required.

Mr. Majd Abu Zant, COO of UEMedical and CEO of HealthPlus Network of Specialty Centers, stated, “The private healthcare sector continues to be a vital and strategic partner to the Department of Health in helping execute key initiatives rapidly. Within a matter of days from receiving the government’s directives, UEMedical was able to deploy two very innovative services for the delivery of prescription medication and tele-consultations. At this time, the services will be offered at no additional cost to our patients and the community at large in order to support the national efforts in helping people stay at home.“

“The group has completed all necessary preparations to launch the medications delivery service. The service is called “Wasfati”, which means ‘My Prescription’ in Arabic. Patients are able now to submit their orders through the Wasfati web-application www.wasfati.ae. The patient would need to fill in their personal information and address, upload the prescription along with a copy of Emirates ID and insurance if applicable, or order over-the-counter medications (medicines that don’t require any medical prescriptions). After completing the online order, one of our licensed pharmacists will contact the patient to provide them with the education needed and the instructions; and will inform the patient on the expected date and time of the delivery,” Mr. Abu Zant added.

Mr. Abu Zant also clarified that this service will be extremely beneficial for all patients, especially for those who are taking regular medication for chronic illnesses as well as elderly patients. It will enable them to receive their medications at the comfort of their homes without visiting the pharmacy. The delivery will be available for patients in Abu Dhabi city.”

“In addition to Wasfati service, all UEMecical facilities including Danat Al Emarat Hospital, HealthPlus Centers and Moorfields Eye Hospital Abu Dhabi will activate their tele-health services for patients who require medications refills, or to discuss their lab results or need medical advice not related to urgent and emergency care. Tele-consultations will allow patients who don’t need to be physically present at our facilities to schedule a consultation remotely with their doctor and continue their care without interruption”, Mr. Abu Zant added.

Mr. Mariano Gonzalez, CEO of Danat Al Emarat Hospital stated, “Tele-health services will be available for our female patients as well as pediatrics. Such a service will limit their unnecessary visits to the hospital during this time. The physician over the phone or online will conduct a full consultation session for patients in most specialties, and will be able to decide if the patient needs to visit the hospital for a clinical examination or if any essential lab works or x-rays are needed. Through this service, the physician will also remotely provide advices and also a refill of prescriptions for our established patients suffering from chronic diseases.” 

“Danat Al Emarat’s Rehabilitation department including its Speech & Language Therapy as well as our mental health clinicians are committed to supporting children, adults and their families who need to continue their therapeutic sessions particularly during this time of the global uncertainty surrounding COVID-19. In order to facilitate the continuation of treatment and provide the support needed, we will be offering tele-practice sessions virtually where children, adults and families can receive video consultation and counseling services or communicate through video calls with our highly skilled clinicians remotely and from the comfort of your homes,” Mr. Gonzalez concluded.