Digital health system: Health status alerts to phone

Health Minister Abdulla Khaleel states alarms indicating the health status of the person will be sent to them via SMS once a digital health system is established in the Maldives.

He made the remark while speaking during a program broadcasted by the state media on Sunday night on the address delivered by President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu at the 79^th Session of the United Nations General Assembly highlighting the importance of digitization. 

Minister Khaleel noted that there were difficulties in establishing the health status of citizens in the Maldives and maintaining their medical records due to the lack of availability of a platform with consolidated health details.

As an example, he cited that the tests conducted often needs to be repeated multiple times. He detailed that a patient who goes to another hospital after undergoing tests a hospital is forced to repeat the test due to there being no record of it. As a result, the Minister said the care required by the patient is delayed significantly while the state’s burden with regard to expenses also increase. 

The Minister detailed one of the biggest obstructions to maintaining medical records due to the fact that doctors recruited to work in the Maldives cannot be retained for long term with most of them leaving the nation after one year or so.

Henceforth, he said the solution was to transform Maldives towards a digital economy, adding the establishment of a digital health system in the nation would prove to be highly beneficial.

In this regard, Minister Khaleel said the medical records of each individual can be maintained by public and private hospitals and clinics via the system. He also noted that the results of tests underdone by a patient at any healthcare facility will be informed to them via SMS.

“This means that even if the patient goes to a private sector clinic, once the result of the test is entered into the system, an alarm will be sent to their phone. Via SMS, they will be informed of the opportunities available and asked to prepare for the treatment as soon as possible,” he explained.

The Minister also said the system will pave way to make appointments online and hold online consultations. Hence. The system being shaped this way would provide great easements to the public, he added. 

Speaking further, Minister Khaleel underscored that some islands face shortage of medication.  He detailed that digitalization would resolve with the commencement of drone service to transport medication to islands.

“These are benefits of establishing a digital health backbone. These systems have already been established across many nations. We are talking about something that has not been achieved in the Maldives. Public and private healthcare facilities will fall under this system once established,” he remarked.

While the digital health system is currently being developed, the Minister said once complete, the result will be the medical records of patients from birth till the present being available on the system.