UAE, January 17, 2016 – The Dubai Health Authority’s (DHA) Primary Health Care Department, in cooperation with the Strategic Planning Department, recently organized a brainstorming session to put an operational plan for primary health care centers for 2016 in the presence of Dr. Abdul Aziz Al Zarooni, Director of Al Amal Hospital and Deputy Director of Dubai Medical District. The gathering was attended by a number of officials from primary health care centers as well as leaders from the UAE Ministry of Health’s Government Innovation Laboratory. 

The session included an introduction on ‘Innovation in Health’ highlighting the importance of the application of ‘Design Thinking at Work.’ Participants joined specialized teams, including a Smart Care Group attractive to customers, the development of specialized services and treatment of chronic diseases group, a group to develop the students and young people’s health services, the development of a set of preventive and promotive services to primary health care (motherhood and childhood, the early detection of cancer and the risk factors for non-communicable diseases).

Dr. Wedad Al Maidoor, Director of Dubai Health Authority’s Primary Health Care Department, stated that the Government Innovation Laboratory primarily aims to spread the culture of innovation. It wants to promote the concept of creativity in work through the implementation of modern techniques such as analytical thinking to address the challenges faced by primary health care centers. Aside from strengthening the government excellence system, its goal is to develop the innovation skills of the leaders and staff of primary health care centers.

The brainstorming session resulted in a range of creative and innovative development ideas, including:

·         Electronic registration for health center visits

·         Health or identity card reader to ensure accuracy of information and faster completion of transactions

·         Electronic registration for pre-marriage test

·         Incorporating medical tourism services at health care centers

·         Providing specialized services at health care centers

·         Building community companies such as contracting with Health Kitchens and Sports and Physical Therapy Centers to provide services to patients with chronic diseases, including diabetes and obesity