04 The lowdown on diets and calorie counting 06 Expert advice on exercises to strengthen the hips Your weekly dose of health A GULF NEWS SPONSORED SUPPLEMENT, ISSUE 167 OCTOBER 05, 2020 It will also help maintain high standards of medical practice, clinical pathways and protocols which will help ensure hospitals and healthcare providers adhere to unified DHA revamps Dubai’s protocols of health. Moreover, Al Hashimi added that the health sector will also benefit due to plan- ning and research as DRG will provide evidence-based data that can be used to health insurance system device public health policies with an aim to improve the health and well-being of the community. Since 2016, DHA has compre- Through the diagnosis-related group (DRG) system for hospitals, medical costs will hensively liaised with healthcare providers be categorised and paid up-front and updated them regularly about the im- plementation of DRG. In 2017, the DHIC began the implemen- KAMAKSHI GUPTA, tation of DRG codes as part of the Dubai DHA Medical Coding Manual. Additionally, more than 160 educational seminars have been conducted on topics including shadow ubai Health Authority’s (DHA’s) billing and the full implementation of the Dubai Health Insurance Corpo- DRG. D ration (DHIC) has announced Additionally, the DHIC provided commu- the introduction of diagnosis- nication materials and support on impor- related group (DRG) for all hospitals in tant topics such as DRG payment parame- the emirate. The move came into effect last ters methodology guidelines and the DHIC month, however, it has been in the pipeline continues to support hospitals in this en- for more than four years, during which ac- deavour. Even today, post go-live the DHIC tive consultation and stakeholder engage- continues to have collaborative working ment with the private sector took place. group sessions with all stakeholders. DRG helps health insurance companies Al Hashimi said, “The health sector in categorise hospitalisation costs. Rather Dubai is robust and implementation of than paying the hospital for each specific DRG will further drive efficiencies and help service that was provided, a private insur- bolster the health sector in the emirate.” er will pay the hospital a predetermined amount based on the patient’s diagnostic -related group. This DRG is based on a va- riety of metrics including patient diagnosis, MEASURABLE prognosis and various other factors. BENEFITS OF DRG: DRG is a widely adopted model and is used in countries such as Canada, Germa- EFFICIENCY: ny, New Zealand, Australia, Singapore and 1. Reduces the length of stay for Hong Kong. in-patient cases 2. Reduces medical expenditures Benefits of DRG iStock 3. Reduces unnecessary services H.E. Humaid Al Qutami, Director General H.E. Humaid Al mance and get rewarded for clinical out- He said the implementation is in line of Dubai Health Authority, highlighted the Qutami, Director comes market. Payers will have to continue with the DHA’s Dubai Strategy for Health- QUALITY OF CARE: benefits of the DRG for the overall health General of Dubai to get creative with offerings to cater to dif- care 2016-2021 as DRG will help further 1 Reduces readmission rates sector in Dubai and said that it will increase Health Authority, ferent sections of the market and some may enhance the quality of medical insurance. 2. Improves patient safety efficiency, further improve provision of highlighted the eventually create a niche for themselves, Al Hashimi added healthcare financing 3. Adherence to clinical guidelines healthcare and reduce healthcare costs. benefits of the while providers will have to compete on has been the primary use for DRG imple- Saleh Al Hashimi, CEO of the Dubai DRG for the quality outcomes. mentation worldwide but there are many MEDICAL CODING: Health Insurance Corporation said, “The overall health “The implementation of DRGs focuses other benefits of the DRG model as well. 1. Increases accuracy of medical implementation of DRG will undoubtedly sector in Dubai on benefitting patients as it will lead to im- coding help both providers and payers and most and said that proved efficiencies and quality of patient Improved efficiencies 2. Improves clinical importantly it will benefit patients as it will it will increase care. In the DRG payment model, bundle In addition to controlling the rising cost documentation further drive up efficiencies in inpatient efficiency, further payments encourage hospitals to be more of healthcare expenditure, eliminating 3. Lowers rejection rates care. It will also improve the quality of care improve provision cost effective in their care delivery. As a re- waste, helping resource distribution ob- across the spectrum and it will encourage of healthcare and sult, the cost of healthcare and premiums jectively and equitably, creative incentives MANAGEMENT OF COMPLEX CASES: cost reduction, which will help build a ro- reduce healthcare will reduce over time. Hospitals will be- to deliver cost effective and high quality of 1. Better understanding of patient bust and dynamic health sector. costs come more efficient, leading to improved care; DRG will also help with enhancing profiles “We believe that DRGs will cause a shift patient outcomes and increased patient transparency and it will help benchmark 2. Better resource allocation in paradigm from being a fee for service satisfaction while reducing waiting times and monitor quality across hospitals and market environment to a pay for perfor- for approvals.” countries. Three new COVID-19 test centres opened Dubai’s coronavirus testing capacity is now more than 78,000 tests per day ments and the best international protocols. She said STAFF REPORT that the centres will operate seven days a week from 11am to 6pm, with a capacity of 550 examinations per ubai Health Authority (DHA) has announced day for each centre. the addition of three new COVID-19 testing She said that the expansion of the scope of COVID-19 D centres. The three new testing centres are lo- testing comes as a result of the authority’s keenness to cated in Al Rashidiya Majlis, Al Hamriya Port ensure the ease of access of this important service to Majlis and Jumeirah 1 Port Majlis. people everywhere in Dubai and to facilitate examina- There are now five centres that are dedicated for tion procedures for everyone, especially those living in COVID-19 testing including the centres in Al Shabab Al- high-density residential areas. Ahli and Al Nasr Clubs and tests now cost Dh150. She added that the authority is working continuously Dr Farida Al Khaja, CEO of DHA’s Clinical Support to combat the global pandemic and provide the highest Services and Nursing Sector, said that the three new levels of health security for the community, through the centres are operational. The public can take their PCR proactive preventive steps it carries out, which includes tests at the centres after completing the required regis- the expansion of laboratory COVID-19 testing. tration and booking an appointment through the DHA’s DHA increased the capacity of COVID-19 testing at toll-free number, 800 342. public and private healthcare facilities in Dubai and the Dr Al Khaja said that the new centres were prepared number of daily COVID-19 screenings has now crossed in record time in accordance with the highest require- 78,000 tests. Supplied 2 Health News Monday, October 5, 2020 More than 54,000 enquiries on DHA’s WhatsApp helpline The most common question is about eligibility and procedure for a COVID-19 test STAFF REPORT Since the launch of the DHA COVID-19 hel- pline service in April, users have accurate, of- ubai Health Authority (DHA) and ficial health information and advice about the Facebook have announced that the coronavirus, with the most asked questions on DHA COVID-19 helpline service on the WhatsApp service being, am I eligible for a D WhatsApp has received 54,881 unique coronavirus test and what is the procedure to requests from the public between April and Sep- get the test?. The second most common question tember. The automated chatbot application is a was, can I get a coronavirus medical certificate? free 24/7 service which was developed to raise The third most common enquiry was, I suspect awareness among the public and provide them that there is a sick person with coronavirus, with accurate information about COVID-19 and what do I do? some other DHA services. The service was also Fatma Al Khaja, Director of the Customer introduced in line with the authority’s efforts to Happiness Department at DHA, said that the provide community members with an option to DHA helpline service has been very helpful in have a 24/7 communication channel available in assisting people by debunking rumours about multiple languages. the virus and equipping the public with the necessary knowledge to take preventive and precautionary measures to protect themselves The automated from COVID-19. “We wanted a system that would respond to chatbot patients’ queries quickly and to give people a application credible channel to receive accurate informa- tion. The system provides users with an oppor- is a free 24/7 tunity to learn more about the virus, get UAE statistics and even find out if they are eligible service which for a coronavirus test,” said Al Khaja. was developed to As part of an ongoing partnership, Facebook has also provided DHA with ad credits to drive raise awareness people to government websites, to receive among the public more information and statistics about the pandemic in Dubai. Between April and Sep- and provide them tember 2020, the DHA ads on social platforms Instagram and Facebook have reached over with accurate six million unique users and have been viewed information about more than 36 million times.