The Dubai Health Authority (DHA) will implement telemedicine in the field of diabetic eye-care in a move to ensure convenience for diabetic patients.

Engineer Essa Al Maidoor, director-general of DHA, said: “Diabetics who visit the DHA facilities will no longer have to go to an ophthalmologist for their annual eye check-ups. Every diabetic clinic in DHA primary healthcare centres are fitted with digital retinal cameras. Patients can get their retinal check-up at the centre during their regular follow-up appointment and the films will be sent electronically to the ophthalmology department at Dubai Hospital.

“Ophthalmologists then examine the patient file, blood reports and correlate this with the captured images. Basic treatment plan will be prescribed based on the reports and only those patients that need further investigation will have to visit the ophthalmologists at the hospital,” he said.

This system multiple advantages. “Through telemedicine we can detect diabetic retinopathy early on. It is cost-effective because healthcare settings do not need to employ ophthalmologists across every health centre. The images can be taken by a diabetic nurse,” he said.

Al Maidoor said in the first phase, 18 digital cameras have been fitted across DHA diabetes clinics and henceforth all new health centres will follow the same system. – TradeArabia News Service