The Dubai Health Authority (DHA) and Smart Dubai jointly launched a Drugs and Medical Supplies Management System at the 40th GITEX Technology Week on Sunday. The DHA became the first government entity in the region to install the internationally-acclaimed state-of-the-art fully automated paperless drug management system named "Tarmeez".

Speaking at the launch ceremony, DHA Director-General Humaid Al Qutami said that the implementation of the TARMEEZ system will help in boosting the efficiency of drugs and medical material management noting its significance in the healthcare system.

Al Qutami also highlighted DHA's keenness in utilizing the latest digital technology and innovative solutions with the aim to strengthen Dubai's health sector and ensuring that the highest quality of medical care is easily accessible for patients.

He also underlined that the project is of critical importance for the authority, noting that it will support the entity's aim to utilize smart technology to provide the highest quality of healthcare management and services. Al Qutami stressed the keenness of the authority to ensure the implementation of the Dubai Paperless Strategy and its key goals.

Launched in February 2018 by Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of the Executive Council of Dubai, the Paperless Strategy is aimed at minimizing the use of paper from all internal day-to-day operations and customer services across all Dubai government agencies by the end of 2021.

In addition, Ghanim Lootah, Director of Asset Management at the DHA asserted that the introduction of this system will benefit the DHA Strategy 2016-2021 in various ways, adding that it is in line with the Dubai Paperless Strategy. Ghanim Lootah explained that the drug and medical supplies material management system assists in digital tracking of orders and monitoring supply and usage of stored medicines and other medical equipment. Furthermore, it helps the authority to effectively handle and manage drugs and medical materials, track information and documentation and minimize operational costs and medication waste.

"To better determine which drugs should be regularly re-ordered, we can look at the system, which provides an in-depth overview of utilization management. Since it all digital the saving in terms of time, cost and resources are significant," Ghanim Lootah added.

He also affirmed that the system ensures 100% accuracy in identifying drugs and other medical supplies to maintain the safety of patients. It also helps in reducing the time required to track and monitor inventory by 80 per cent, which will lead to saving 4,640 hours and 2.3 million sheets of printed-paper every year.

As of now, the DHA is coordinating with over 183 international manufacturers and 42 local factories and distributors.

The system provides an electronic catalogue containing the information of all items to all DHA medical staff across hospitals, primary and specialised health centres. The catalogue offers a central dashboard providing information about every inventory and supply chain KPI details.

Ghanim Lootah also highlighted that TARMEEZ is integrated with Salama- the Dubai Health Authority's (DHA) unified electronic medical record system.

WAM