DUBAI // Health chiefs in Dubai have introduced a set of standards to ensure treatment for diabetes patients is the same in private or public clinics and hospitals.
“Using international benchmarks and keeping local issues in mind, a team of specialists has devised criteria that all practitioners in Dubai will have to adhere to,” said Dr Haidar Al Yousuf, director of health funding at Dubai Health Authority (DHA).
“The parameters of care include everything from screening to medications and diet. Several of the screening and care parameters are in line with UAE National Guidelines for Diabetes, and factors such as diet have been modified to adapt to the regional needs,” he said.
In addition to the standardised treatment scheme, the DHA plans to train more than 700 private and public sector physicians to ensure the plans are implemented.
“The cost of uncontrolled diabetes with complications is 25 times more than the cost of controlled diabetes,” said Essa Al Maidoor, director-general of the DHA.
The authority plans to roll out similar schemes for other chronic conditions including irritable bowel syndrome, bronchial asthma and rheumatoid arthritis.
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