Patients can also view all their appointments online, as well as access details on medical facilities, services and doctors at all government and private hospitals in the country. The website was launched by Health Minister Dr Nada Haffadh in a ceremony at the Gulf International Convention and Exhibition Centre, Gulf Hotel.
It coincided with the Second Annual FutureIT 2004 Conference and Exhibition, which concludes today at the same venue.
Dr Haffadh congratulated the Health Information Directorate on the success of the website and thanked it for its efforts. "I hope to see patients making appointments through the website," she said.
The launch was also attended by Health Ministry Under-Secretary Dr Aziz Hamza, health officials and guests. Health Information Directorate director Ahmed Al Hujairy gave a short speech about the features of the website.
"It is part of Bahrain's e-government preparations and will take the country into a new era of technology," he said.
"The website will act as a live link between the community and the ministry."
This was followed by a demonstration of the new website by Health Ministry senior computer system analyst Heyam Ebrahim Hazeem.
She explained the objectives, features and services of the website, saying it had a different look, additional features and services.
"This website is a new version of an old one already launched by the ministry two years ago," she said.
"The previous website was a one-way communication, this is two-way and it's interactive."
To find out details about appointments - such as the time, clinic, and name of doctor - patients can now go to the appointments section of the website, enter their CPR number and the information will appear on screen.
Patients can also use the website to book appointments for SMC's limited private practices including gynaecology; paediatric; ear, nose and throat and other specialities.
The website can also be used to search for a doctor, or a dentist, at the government health centres and hospitals. In addition, it displays telephone numbers, addresses, services and other details of government and private hospitals in Bahrain.
Other features include emergency services, health news, tenders, health statistics, ministry publications, research, health legislation and online forms.
"We also have a link to a site we developed for Formula One, which is www.healthtourism.gov.bh," said Ms Hazeem.
"This site gives a list of all the private hospitals, medical centres and dental hospitals in Bahrain."
Mr Hazeem said the Health Information Directorate was already working on developing the website further.
"If it proves successful we would like patients to be able to book all of their appointments online," she said.
"We are also thinking of having a section where people can check their results on the website."
Other plans for the website included educational information for schools, as well as a portal whereby people can go on a tour of a hospital and view its facilities. The new website can be found at www.health.gov.bh.
Quelle: Gulf Daily News, 12.05.2004
