During a Visit to Al Qassimi Hospital for Women & Children and the first-of-kind Asthma room relies

Sharjah, July 27th, 2019

Within the framework of strengthening the strategic partnership, fostering cooperation and exchanging experience, a high-level delegation from AstraZeneca conducted a visit to Al Qassimi Hospital for Women & Children to learn closely about hospital facilities, its specialized departments and the level of the diagnostic and therapeutic services provided at the hospital.

The delegation was accompanied by H.E. Dr. Youssif Al Serkal, Assistant Undersecretary for the Ministry’s Hospitals Sector.

During the tour, Dr. Al Serkal briefed Mr. Leon Wang, the Executive Vice-President, International, AstraZeneca, head of the Health Innovation Center in Wuxi, China, on the hospital’s vital medical specialties and the pioneering medical services based on digital technology innovations, through the use of the latest devices and smart technologies, 

Al Serkal noted that Al Qassimi Hospital for Women & Children has managed to achieve a qualitative addition to the Ministry of Health and Prevention’s (MoHAP’s) services, despite the newness of its inauguration.

The Importance of Partnership with AstraZeneca

Al Serkal explained that the visit comes within the context of enhancing mutual cooperation between MoHAP and AstraZeneca and exchanging visits with a view to showcasing the latest healthcare developments and their innovative pathways, as well as keeping abreast with the future therapeutic protocols.

He shed light on the importance of this partnership which brings together both sides in a number of the national agenda-related essential medical initiatives and the role of such partnership in promoting the healthcare quality, developing the health system and the constant training of the medical professionals.

Visiting the Room for Children with Asthma

The visiting delegation also visited the innovative room for children with asthma at the Emergency Department of Al Qassimi Hospital for Women & Children.

The world’s first-of-kind room relies on the 3D and Virtual Reality (VR) technologies in accordance with the latest international practices. The new room eases the inhaling process of asthma medicine via steam and turns the boring and tiring treatment times into interesting moments for both children and their families.

During the medicine inhalation process, the child and his family will be watching an interactive and interesting educational movie, where 'Hammoud and Dana', the Emirati cartoony characters lead the child in several stages of educational adventures including space, forests and desert in both Arabic and English languages, in order to ensure that the child is receiving the full dose of the medicine without interruption, thus reducing their time of hospitalization.

National Innovation Strategy

“Opening of the world’s first-of-kind asthma treatment room that relies on the 3D and Virtual Reality (VR) technologies at Al Qassimi Hospital for Women & Children in May, comes in line with the National Innovation Strategy that encourages innovation in providing health services and treatments using advanced technology, in addition to working with strategic partners on developing the medical research sector to treat common diseases”. Dr. Yousuf Al-Sarkal said

He underlined the positive outcomes of the children’s response to the treatment of asthma after the inauguration of this room last May. In addition to the parents and doctors’ satisfaction with the effectiveness of this interactive room. 

“This new technology has contributed to making the treatment journey much easier and comfortable for both the child and his family. Now, the children receive their treatment more quietly and interactively, thus their hospitalization time has been reduced and the frequency of taking the medicine as well,” he added.

Innovative and Integrated Solutions to Enhance Treatment Adherence 

Al Serkal stated that asthma is one of the most common chronic diseases among children. According to the statistics of MoHAP’s hospitals in 2018, the number of patients with asthma was 15994 patients, among which, are 7119 children. 

Therefore, MoHAP is keen on exploiting the latest therapeutic protocols of asthma and enhancing the capabilities of the healthcare professionals, in terms of diagnosing, managing and treating asthma and raising the awareness of that disease. 

He further elaborated: “Currently, MoHAP is collecting accurate data to conduct extensive research, with a view to expanding its services in the respiratory diseases field and identifying the number of patients with asthma in the Northern Emirates. Our aim to provide asthma rooms at MoHAP’s health care centers, as part of our future vision to consolidate the notion of innovation and leadership in the healthcare field.”

MoU on Children with Asthma

Al Serkal shed light on the MoU signed by both MoHAP and AstraZeneca to develop innovative and integrated solutions to children with asthma, which is one of the most common chronic diseases among children.

This comes as part of developing the National Indicators outcomes in respiratory and chronic diseases field, so as to achieve the National Agenda objectives 2021.

AstraZeneca Bolsters MoHAP’s Efforts

Mr. Leon Wang, the Executive Vice-President, International, AstraZeneca, said: “We are committed to bolstering MoHAP’s efforts in achieving a world-class healthcare system, in line with the UAE Vision 2021. 
This commitment is clearly evident in the project of the smart room for children with asthma, as part of our program “Healthy Lung”.

“Healthy Lung” program aims at scaling up the skills of the healthcare professionals, understanding the significance of asthma prevalence in the UAE and building capabilities to further provide patient-centered innovative solutions across the UAE,” Wang added.