The ministry has adopted a comprehensive plan for switching over to e-services, so as to improve the quality of services and save time and effort. Al Elkeem said "As we shift to e-government and the online submission of applications, the new e-projects will be launched in the beginning of next year, to offer quick, integrated quality services and implement the newly designed 'e-application' concept, in handling and processing various kinds of applications."
The ministry always seeks to employ the latest technology to provide the best services, he added.
Al Elkeem said the ministry's plan is aimed at intensifying online services in the light of the e-government, which is being implemented by the Ministry of Finance and Industry.
An e-link project, which is considered of the most important and largest, will be implemented in the middle of 2004.
Under this project, all the hospitals and health centres will be connected electronically, through a modern and high-tech system.
The new system will help exchange information between the country's various departments and hospitals via Internet and also aims to gradually switch over to paperless work.
Al Elkeem said the Dh150 million system will be introduced to speed up the tedious and time-consuming process, and improve the quality of services. The system will be gradually put in place and extended to all emirates within three years, said Al Elkeem.
The continued education project for doctors and consultants will be launched and a smart card will to be issued for each doctor joining the programme.
Humaid Al Shamsi, Assistant Undersecretary for Financial and Administrative Affairs at the ministry, said the health card system will be modernised to offer quicker and better services. Services for early detectiion of cancer and communicable diseases will be also among the services that are to be launched next year, said Al Shamsi.
Dr. Abdul Ghafar Abdul Ghafour, Assistant Undersecretary for Curative Medicine, said the ministry has electronically linked the main hospitals in Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, Fujairah and Ajman.
Some of the major plans:
- All hospitals and health centres will be linked electronically so as to exchange information about patients, medications and related issues.
- Online applications for renewal of licences for doctors, technicians, private medical institutions and applications for health–related advertisements.
- The e-system for issuing medical certificates and health fitness certificates which will be extended to all emirates.
- The issuance of medical e-reports and prescriptions.
- An e-link project will connect Health Ministry and the Ministry of Interior and Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs.
- The health card system will be modernised to offer quicker and better services.
- Services for early detection of cancer and communicable diseases.
