India-based digital healthcare platform Practo launches instant online access services in UAE
Practo, an India-based digital healthcare platform, announced going live in the UAE, enabling users in Abu Dhabi, Dubai, and Sharjah to book appointments with verified doctors and access thousands of patient reviews.
Some of the early clinics and hospitals partnering with Practo.com include e-Kaya Skin Clinic, Sulaiman Habib Hospital and Clinics, Micris Dental, Smile on Dental Clinic and Quintinha hospitals, the platform said.
Shashank ND, Co-founder & CEO, Practo, said in today's world, and particularly in a market such as the UAE, access to quality healthcare should not be defined by proximity alone.
'Our experience has shown that patient reviews are a trusted indicator for users to make a decision, and we are now happy to extend this opportunity to users in the UAE,' he said.
Shashank said the initial response to the online access services has been overwhelmingly positive.
Practo said it already has more than 31,000 doctors, 3,000 healthcare facilities, and over 50,000 monthly users already accessing the platform in the UAE.
As an insurance-led healthcare market, Dubai places strong emphasis on coverage when it comes to accessing care.
Practo said it already has insurance data at the establishment level and will make this available at the doctor level by the end of the month, enabling more informed patient decisions.
The launch builds on Practo's over 10-year presence in the UAE through Insta by Practo, its hospital management software that powers operations at leading healthcare institutions across the region.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Gulf Business
2 hours ago
- Gulf Business
UAE, Kuwait ink multiple agreements, includes Dhs9bn naval contract
Imge courtesy: WAM The UAE and Kuwait signed a series of bilateral agreements and memoranda of understanding (MoUs) on Monday, aimed at deepening cooperation across strategic sectors including health, energy, education, and defence, during an official visit by UAE Vice President Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, state news agency, WAM reported. The signing ceremony, held at Bayan Palace in the presence of Sheikh Mansour and Kuwait's Prime Minister Sheikh Ahmad Abdullah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, underscores the two Gulf nations' intent to strengthen economic and diplomatic ties amid evolving regional dynamics. The agreements span a wide range of areas, with key MoUs covering healthcare, infrastructure, investment, social development, energy transition, and AI, as both countries pursue mutual development priorities and enhanced regional integration. UAE-Kuwait agreements signed According to the WAM report, the key deals signed cover sectors such as: Health: MoUs were signed between the UAE and Kuwait's health ministries to boost collaboration in medical services and public health policy. Education: Both countries agreed to expand cooperation in the education sector through a pact signed by their respective ministers of education. Energy and infrastructure: MoUs included commitments to collaborate in land transport, roads, oil and gas, and future energy initiatives such as water and electricity. Technology and industry: A separate agreement focused on industry and advanced technology was signed to support innovation and knowledge exchange. Humanitarian and legal affairs: Joint frameworks were agreed to address human trafficking and legal cooperation, reflecting a shared focus on rights and rule of law. Investment: The UAE's Minister of Investment and the head of Kuwait's Direct Investment Promotion Authority signed an MoU to promote bilateral investment flows. Security and data: Ministries of Interior from both sides inked an MoU on data protection and joint security information-sharing projects. AI partnership initiated, naval contract with EDGE The Kuwait Investment Authority joined the 'Artificial Intelligence Infrastructure Partnership' initiative, which includes global partners MGX, BlackRock, Global Infrastructure Partners, and Microsoft — adding regional backing to the tech-driven project. In a separate defence agreement, Kuwait's Ministry of Defence signed a contract with UAE-based EDGE Group for the procurement of several 'Falaj 3' class missile boats, highlighting deepening defence industry ties between the two states. Representing the largest naval shipbuilding export in the region and one of the highest-value naval export deals globally, the agreement positions EDGE as the prime contractor overseeing the design, construction, trials, delivery, Integrated Logistics Support (ILS), and In-Service Support (ISS) for the vessels. EDGE will also supply ammunition, highlighting its end-to-end defence capabilities. Abu Dhabi Ship Building (ADSB), EDGE's naval arm and the UAE's premier shipbuilder, has been appointed as the build subcontractor. A WAM report quoted Hamad Al Marar, The visit by Sheikh Mansour marks a continued trajectory of close UAE-
Al Etihad
2 hours ago
- Al Etihad
EMSTEEL transforms steel waste into cement in pioneering sustainability project
4 June 2025 23:32 SARA ALZAABI (ABU DHABI)In a regional first, Abu Dhabi-based manufacturer EMSTEEL has converted steel waste into low-carbon cement through a large-scale project, setting new standards for circular economy practices in the industrial marks the pioneering milestone in time for World Environment Day, which is observed on June 5 every to Aletihad, Eng. Saeed Ghumran Al Remeithi, Group CEO EMSTEEL, expressed pride in their team's successful recycling of steel slag, a byproduct of steel-making, into 10,000 tonnes of cement."This initiative is not only technologically significant but also sets a new benchmark for how industrial by-products can be transformed into valuable resources. It affirms the feasibility of industrial circularity and positions us at the forefront of sustainable innovation in heavy industry," Al Remeithi achievement, he added, is a significant step toward EMSTEEL's 2030 climate goals: a 40% absolute greenhouse gas reduction from its steel division and a 30% reduction from its cement division."By incorporating steel slag at scale as a raw material for clinker and cement production, we are reinforcing our commitment to sustainability and creating a practical model for circular industrial operations," the group CEO pilot project also serves as a distinctive example of how the integration of steel and cement operations enhances efficiency while advancing sustainability operations across steel and cement sectors allows companies to innovate, capture emissions reduction, and unlock hidden value at scale, Al Remeithi said."EMSTEEL's model exemplifies how vertical integration can serve as a blueprint for other industrial players seeking to decarbonise while maintaining profitability. It is a strong signal that the future of heavy industry lies in collaboration, resource efficiency, and smart, circular design," he said. Climate GoalsThrough its latest circular economy project, EMSTEEL reaffirms its commitment to supporting the UAE's climate ambitions. "We are dedicated to driving industrial decarbonisation in line with the UAE's goal of a 27% reduction in industrial emissions by 2035 from 2019 levels,"Al Remeithi said. "The group has already made substantial progress in reducing Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions, as well as emissions intensity between 2019 and 2023. As of 2023, our total Scope 1 and 2 emissions stood at 4.5 million tonnes of carbon dioxide - 23% below the baseline year of 2019. We are also on track to fully power our operations with clean and renewable energy by 2030." Source: Aletihad - Abu Dhabi
Al Etihad
2 hours ago
- Al Etihad
How EAD sparked a society-wide movement to go green and recycle
4 June 2025 23:23 MAYS IBRAHIM (ABU DHABI)Single-use plastic is gradually becoming a thing of the past in Abu Dhabi, thanks to a coordinated push across sectors, led by the Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi (EAD).This World Environment Day - observed today under the theme "Putting an End to Plastic Pollution" - Aletihad highlights Abu Dhabi's success in igniting a collaborative movement to eliminate single-use battle started in 2020 with the launch of the emirate's Single-Use Plastic Policy that formed the bedrock of a comprehensive, society-wide movement to reduce the beginning, EAD has veered away from conventional top-down policy approaches. Rather than relying solely on regulation, the agency focused on public engagement, industry collaboration, and long-term behavioural change."We didn't wait to enforce and then explain," Her Excellency Sheikha Al Mazrouei, Executive Director of the Integrated Environmental Planning and Policy Sector at EAD, told Aletihad in a recent interview. "We listened, engaged, and communicated before implementation. That made all the difference."Before the policy was enacted, the agency launched public surveys, stakeholder workshops, and social media campaigns to gauge community sentiment and gather than 1,600 participants responded to an early-stage survey, overwhelmingly supporting action against single-use collaborative spirit laid the groundwork for a smooth rollout. "We brought retailers, plastic producers, and the public on board early. By the time the policy was launched, there was buy-in," Al Mazrouei numbers point to a decisive shift: Since the ban on single-use plastic bags came into effect, usage plummeted by 95%.According to EAD, retail giants such as Carrefour, Lulu, AD COOP, Spinneys, Choithrams and ADNOC Distribution fully transitioned to reusable alternatives within the timeframe the policy had than 97% of retailers now comply with the regulation of banning targeted single-use Styrofoam products, a success rate achieved through partnerships, not penalties."Our goal was never to punish. We work with the private sector, not against it," Al Mazrouei said. "We see them as strategic partners." Bottle Return Scheme In 2023, EAD launched the Incentive-Based Bottle Return Scheme, aiming to collect 20 million plastic and metal bottles in the first year. However, the results exceeded expectations sevenfold."To date, we've collected over 130 million bottles, equivalent to more than 2,000 tonnes of waste," Al Mazrouei said. "That's material no longer polluting our coasts but re-entering the economy through dynamic recycling."With more than 170 Reverse Vending Machines (RVMs) now deployed across malls, cinemas, and supermarkets in Abu Dhabi, the programme demonstrates how community-level participation can significantly support sustainability targets."It's really amazing how society is racing with us in implementing and adopting this initiative. You can see queues in some places like shopping malls and cinemas, where people are lining up to put back their used recycled bottles," Al Mazrouei on earlier measures, EAD enacted a ban on single-use Styrofoam items in June with earlier measures, the rollout was preceded by targeted communication, awareness drives, and site now exceeds 97%, but EAD isn't stopping there. The policy aims to eliminate 100% of single-use plastics from government entities in Abu Dhabi. Environmental ImpactEAD's efforts have translated into measurable environmental gains. Between 2020 and the end of 2024, an estimated 360 million single-use bags were avoided, equivalent to keeping around 2,400 tonnes of plastic out of the than 130 million bottles were collected for recycling, diverting over 2,000 tonnes of plastic waste from efforts have also contributed to avoiding approximately 547,000 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions – the equivalent of taking 130,000 cars off Abu Dhabi's roads for a full year."This impact is the result of one initiative," said Al Mazrouei. "Small changes in our daily lives add up to massive environmental gains." Expanding the Movement EAD is now preparing to align with a federal regulation by the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment - set to take effect in January 2026 - which will target a wider range of single-use plastic products, such as plastic cups, lids, cutlery, plates, and food agency is also exploring how artificial intelligence and circular economy models can be leveraged to make sustainability part of Abu Dhabi's broader economic approach is rooted in the belief that meaningful environmental change starts at the individual level."I've had the same water bottle for five years," Al Mazrouei shared. "If I didn't use this, I'd easily go through 1,000 plastic bottles a year, just me." Want to support Abu Dhabi's journey to zero single-use plastic? Carry a reusable bag, use a refillable bottle, and return any single-use bottles for recycling at collection points. Source: Aletihad - Abu Dhabi
