Dubai Health Authority signs four new MOU’s to accelerate healthcare innovation
In a bid to utilise the latest medical technologies in artificial intelligence to provide quality health services, the Dubai Health Authority (DHA) has signed an MoU with four cutting-edge international companies to adopt their inventive healthcare innovations, as part of its Future Accelerator’s Programme. Over 600 applications were considered within the programme.
The DHA is making a quantum leap that will strengthen the authority’s medical system and its human cadres by equipping them with the latest technologies in the world of artificial intelligence used in diagnosis and treatment.
The four companies include:
- Babylon health mobile app
This app uses cutting-edge AI technology and best available medical expertise to deliver 24/7 video consultations with doctors across Europe, North America, Asia and Africa. The consultation is provided through an AI chatbot and a live question-and-answer session with the user.
The user can discuss their symptoms, where the app then guides the patient to the right doctor. Introduced in 2014 in the UK, the app has over 2.2mn users worldwide, has been Arabised and tweaked in line with the cultural requirements of the region, and in all likelihood, will be available in Dubai in a couple of months.
- Neuro Head Band: detects stroke for high-risk patients
The innovative device by the Health Care and Innovative New Technology (HINT), is designed to detect a patient undergoing a stroke within minutes. Harnessing mobile technology, the band will alert the caregiver, the ambulance and emergency services within minutes.
- Health pods from Bodyo
The health AI pod is a fully body scanner, where residents can step in and be screened for body temperature, blood sugar, blood pressure, body composition such as height, weight and other such vital parameters, free of charge. It is part of Dubai’s vision to support population health and could become a key icon in retail spaces and health facilities.
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The AI-assisted pod can instantly give the user an idea of his state of health where he can go in for a preventive health check-up. The procedure is simple and takes no longer than 15 minutes the first time.
“We want to change the mindset of doctors and patients, in which this technology is non-invasive and it is a self-service interaction, without feeling like a medical process – to encourage people to want to return to improve their own health,” explained Tariq Hussain, Bodyo’s Chief Executive.
The technology will aim to counteract a growing shortage of medical professionals in the region, and lower healthcare costs for patients.
- Flow cell sensors by Admetsys
The flow cell sensors will detect sudden drops in vitals in ICU patients through an algorithm that measures these vitals constantly and it can be read by a nurse on the monitor at a glance. Any drop or rise is alerted by an alarm system. This saves vital time for the nurse and makes constant monitoring possible.
Following the signing of the agreements, HE Humaid Al Qatami said that the Authority is keen to be at the forefront of the transformation, which aims to establish an integrated global platform for the future of the strategic sectors and to create economic value based on embracing and adopting future businesses and technological solutions.
He added that the authority has concluded the fourth session of the Dubai Future Accelerators Programme successfully by signing four agreements following a round of negotiations and discussions aimed at acquiring sophisticated medical technologies.
