Dubai, 26 January 2020: The Ministry of Health and Prevention, MoHAP, has recently launched the AI-based first of its kind device to evaluate diabetic foot wounds, through a handheld diagnostic tool providing the management of chronic wounds according to the fast track.

This was announced as part of MoHAP’s participation in the Arab Health 2020, which is held at the Dubai World Trade Centre, January 27 – 30.

MoHAP added: “The new device, which was launched in cooperation with Emitac Healthcare Solutions, is now available at MoHAP’s diabetes clinics in health centers and hospitals. The device helps to accurately evaluate diabetic foot wounds and speed up their healing and recovery rate. This would help achieve better results in terms of treating diabetes and reducing health care costs.”

The Ministry highlighted the importance of health awareness and education, to avoid serious complications of the diabetic foot, underlining that early prevention and treatment are critical factors to avoid amputation.  

One of the Projects for Integrating AI Technologies
“This project is one of a series of projects to integrate the artificial intelligence (AI) by 100% into medical services, in order to achieve MoHAP’s strategy to enhance community health through the provision of comprehensive, innovative, and world-class health services that exceed patient expectations. This is in addition to adopting creative and innovative ideas as a work methodology to ensure preparedness for the future and use of the AI technologies to accomplish the National Agenda indicators 2021,” said HE Dr. Hussein Abdel Rahman Al-Rand, Undersecretary of the Ministry’s Health Assistant Sector, Health Centers and Clinics.

“The project would help raise the efficiency of the performance of the nursing staff dedicated to the treatment of diabetes complications, especially those with chronic wounds or diabetic foot through the use of a handheld diagnostic tool that enables the management of chronic wounds according to the fast track. This comes as part of MoHAP’s strategy to develop the National Strategy to Combat Non-Communicable Diseases, which is one of the most important challenges facing health systems in the world, in view of rapid prevalence and transmission of such diseases in today’s world. This is why, combating these diseases is at the forefront of the health policy’s concerns and priorities in the UAE,” added Al-Rand.

Avoid Diabetes Complications
Dr. Fadila Mohamed Sherif, Director of MoHAP’s Health Education & Promotion Department, said: “High blood sugar leads to blood vessel disorders. And over time, the nerves damages lead to a loss of sensations in the wounds and sores that affect the foot, causing its inflammation. While the damage of blood vessels may cause insufficient delivery of oxygen-carrying blood to the feet, which makes it difficult to heal wounds.”

She explained that this device would help avoid complications of diabetes through artificial intelligence technology and multiple spectral sensors. This will foster the early detection of complications, suggest treatment in a timely manner, and prevent the patient's injury from becoming more complicated, thus reducing the need for surgical intervention to the minimum.

Global Statistics
Global estimates show that spending on treating diabetic foot in the world has broken new records. The annual financial costs of the diabetic foot in the US was estimated at $ 17 billion, compared to other diseases such as cancers.
While it was estimated that every 5 seconds a leg is amputated, however, with the advancement of health care services, it has become possible to avoid the amputation of diabetic foot by 85%.
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