DUBAI 12 March 2020: All Dubai residents can now contact Dubai Health Authority (DHA), doctors via video and voice calls, for free 24|7 consultation and queries regarding Covid-19.
The service is through DHA’s ‘Doctor for Every Citizen’ initiative, which was launched by the authority last December to fulfil the goals of Article 5 of the Fifty-Year Charter.
The initiative, which initially provided family medicine consultations for Emiratis, will now provide free consultation to all Dubai residents for coronavirus concerns.
Dr. Manal Taryam, CEO of the Primary Healthcare Sector at the DHA said that the authority will utilise telemedicine – which refers to remote clinical healthcare facilitated through apps, calls, and video calls – to provide the public with consultation from certified DHA physicians.
Residents who want answers to their health queries from official sources or are concerned about any symptoms they have can also contact the ‘Doctor for Every Citizen’ service.
Self-Quarantine
“This will especially benefit residents on self-quarantine at home as they will be able to get any health-related queries they may have, answered without leaving the comfort of their homes,” said Dr Taryam.
The DHA advised that individuals should monitor their symptoms whilst at home, and urged individuals to utilise the ‘Doctor for Every Citizen’ initiative should they develop a fever or any flu-like symptoms.
Dr Taryam explained that the Doctor for Every Citizen initiative will cover initial consultation and follow-ups were the physician uses a telehealth platform to communicate with the person while viewing his medical record. The physician will also be able to request lab and radiology tests as well as issue electronic prescriptions.
Under the new service, the public will have round-the-clock access to doctors, specialists and consultants who are DHA certified and trained on using telehealth.
“To access this service all they have to do is download the DHA mobile app and sign up. They then have to book an appointment for the ‘Doctor for every citizen’ service by calling the DHA toll-free number 800 342. Doctors and patients can opt for check-ups via video-call or voice-call,” the DHA official noted.
Screenings and monitoring to combat Covid-19
Measures taken by DHA include thorough screenings of passengers travelling into Dubai from across the world through its airports, ports and border checkpoints, especially from countries that have high infection rates of Covid-19. Specialised medical teams are conducting laboratory sampling and following up on suspected cases.
Dr. Badreya Al Harmi, Director of Public Health Protection Department at the DHA, said the authority has implemented an effective monitoring system for detecting individuals infected by coronavirus.
She said the system facilitates identification of coronavirus cases with high precision and supports medical teams in tracking and following up on those who had contact with confirmed cases. The system adheres to international standards and protocols recognised by the World Health Organization.
Dr. Badreya stressed that all precautionary procedures implemented in this regard are being carried out in coordination and cooperation with concerned authorities, including the Ministry of Health and Prevention, as well as crisis and emergency committees.
The DHA is running campaigns to raise awareness about essential precautionary measures and practices required to combat the spread of the virus and ensure the safety of the residents of Dubai.
Dubai Health Authority has issued comprehensive guidelines for all government and private health facilities in Dubai and conducted training workshops for their staff.
The DHA has also issued an educational guide designed to raise awareness among all members of society with simple, clear and straightforward information about Covid-19. It has also issued a guide to help all institutions in Dubai disseminate accurate information about the coronavirus and raise awareness on essential preventive measures.
Schools & Universities
Furthermore, she said the authority has raised awareness about precautionary measures in schools and universities. It has also issued a clear and detailed guide on procedures for school bus sterilisation and cleaning and disinfection of public transport.
DHA has an integrated preventive system managed by specialised medical and technical experts equipped with the latest technologies and state-of-the-art equipment, she said.
Dr. Badreya urged members of the public to follow preventive steps and instructions issued by the Dubai Health Authority and other official health authorities in the UAE and avoid misinformation from unofficial sources.
