The Ministry of Health and Prevention (MoHAP) announced today (Wednesday) it has developed and activated a predictive electronic system to identify patients at high risk of contracting the novel coronavirus.

The Ministry revealed that it has also activated an early warning system (Wareed system) across all its healthcare facilities to quickly identify individuals at higher risk of acquiring Coronavirus infection.

The early warning system coordinates and manages a potential outbreak. Once automated, algorithms identify a patient as high-risk, the Wareed system places consecutive orders for the patient to be isolated and treated immediately.

The Ministry said the move was taken in cooperation with the UAE’s health authorities as a precautionary measure to protect the country against Coronavirus and to enhance confidence in the country’s preventive measures.

A set of tests and treatment protocols has been automated according to the approved scientific standards to provide statistics and data analysis, monitor all suspected cases and standardize medical practices in all health facilities, MoHAP added.

Awad Saghir Al Ketbi, Assistant Under-Secretary of the Support Services Sector at the ministry said that the ministry has revised and updated infection control policies and advisories to help patients get the care required as well as to protect the general public, adding that the ministry is being highly responsive to such public health risks, and will implement immediate innovative solutions to make it easier for our healthcare force to screen, identify, isolate and manage such risks effectively.

88 health facilities

He added: “With the risk and numbers of the infected population rising globally, the MoHAP’s Wareed team immediately implemented protocols within the Electronic Medical Record that can efficiently identify patients at high risk of potential infection. The timely customization of the Wareed system, which links patient data in 88 health facilities and contains an integrated database, has already started to save significant time for our clinicians on the ground, helping them quickly identify, coordinate and manage a potential outbreak. Once automated algorithms identify a patient as high-risk and the Wareed system places consecutive orders for the patient to be isolated and treated immediately”.