Malaffi to highlight Abu Dhabi’s leadership at Chicago conference

ABU DHABI / WAM

Malaffi, the first Health Information Exchange (HIE) in the Middle East and North Africa and a strategic initiative of the Department of Health — Abu Dhabi, has announced its participation at HIMSS23 Global Conference and Exhibition in Chicago, US. The annual conference, running until April 21 this year, is one of the most critical global meetings for the digital healthcare industry. Malaffi has been selected for the third consecutive year to present at the event.
Abu Dhabi’s participation at the conference highlights the visionary strides the emirate is making in the digital transformation of healthcare. Robert Denson, Acting Chief Executive Officer, and Dr Sanji de Sylva, Vice President of Clinical Engagement and Informatics at Malaffi, will deliver an educational session titled “Transforming Healthcare in Abu Dhabi: Implementing an HIE-wide Image Exchange” on 20th April as part of the technology and interoperability track.
The presentation will discuss the journey to implement an Image Exchange Solution as the latest advancement of the HIE platform, which is a feat that few select HIEs can boast of globally. The solution offers Abu Dhabi physicians access to their patient’s diagnostic images from different health organisations, reducing duplication, cost, and unnecessary radiation while improving decision-making and patient outcomes.
Robert Denson said, “Since its launch in 2019, Malaffi has connected almost the entire sector in Abu Dhabi.”
“Adding to our centralised database that links more than 2,500 private and public healthcare facilities, the Image Exchange Solution enables the sharing of medical images. We are excited to return to the HIMSS global conference and share the experience of implementing this significant advancement to the Malaffi platform.”
Visitors to HIMSS23 will have the opportunity to see the Image Exchange Solution in action at a panel discussion on 18th April, also featuring Dr De Sylva and Denson. The Philips booth will host the discussion as the company provided the solution together with EMITAC, the local implementation partner.
Marc Antoine Zora, General Manager, Philips Gulf & Levant, said, “At Philips, we believe that advanced technologies have the power to enhance patient-centric care that improves people’s lives. Our latest research in the UAE has highlighted that one of the four top factors making it easier for people to focus on their health is doctors having access to their information, regardless of the facility they visit.” Zora went on to say that Philips is proud to provide a solution that enables a seamless exchange of diagnostic images in Abu Dhabi, together with the DOH and Malaffi, which allows radiologists and clinicians to reach the best possible diagnosis and outcomes for the patient while lowering costs and improving the patient and caregiver experience. Zora expressed pride that this successful implementation with their partners is being showcased at the global digital health stage at HIMSS23.
Malaffi’s participation at HIMSS23 underscores its commitment to providing world-class healthcare to Abu Dhabi’s residents. Their ultimate goal is to lead a transformation in the healthcare services paradigm, from the current disease treatment model to one of disease prevention and empowered individuals making informed choices.
Malaffi connects over 2,500 healthcare facilities offering healthcare services to more than three million people in the Emirate. One hundred percent of Abu Dhabi-based hospitals, 99 percent of clinics, and 99 percent of pharmacies in the emirate are connected to the platform. Through Malaffi, more than 45,000 authorised users have access to over 1.7 billion unique patient records in Abu Dhabi.