Latest news with #HIS
The Sun
10 hours ago
- Health
- The Sun
Saudi health ministry speeds up Hajj meds delivery using drones
MAKKAH: The Health Emergency Operations Centre of the Saudi Ministry of Health has dramatically reduced the time required to deliver medications across Hajj sites from over an hour to just six minutes, thanks to the use of drones. This innovation marks a significant step forward in improving healthcare logistics and ensuring timely medical support for millions of pilgrims. Previously, delivering medication to specific Hajj locations could take up to one hour and twenty minutes. By deploying drones this year, the ministry has reduced this time to just six minutes. 'This technological advancement is a game-changer,' said an official during a foreign media visit to the Centre at Mina on Sunday, highlighting how the initiative aligns with the kingdom's commitment to enhancing healthcare services during one of the world's largest annual gatherings. The Health Emergency Operations Centre functions 24/7 and integrates real-time data from multiple hospitals, clinics, and ambulance services. All information flows in real time through electronic systems such as Electronic Medical Records (EMR) and Hospital Information Systems (HIS), allowing healthcare teams to make swift, informed decisions. 'This is an all-digital, fully integrated system,' an official explained. 'Every service provider, from the Ministry of Health to the Red Crescent Authority to private healthcare partners, is linked. Having everyone in the same room at the same time ensures coordinated decision-making and rapid responses.' As of June 1, the ministry reported that more than 81,000 healthcare services had been delivered to pilgrims since the beginning of the Hajj season for the year 1446 AH. The Health Emergency Operations Centre also supports public health monitoring, risk assessment, and rapid escalation when needed. In addition, pilgrims can call the 97 local number for health-related queries, where they will be connected directly to the most suitable service. The Unified Security Operations Centre (911), which works closely with the ministry, answers calls in under two seconds and relays reports to specialised teams within 45 seconds. The system can handle calls in nearly all global languages, ensuring that every pilgrim, regardless of nationality, receives the support they need. As the temperature rises during Hajj, health officials are urging pilgrims to take precautions against heat-related illnesses. 'My advice to all pilgrims is: rest when you can, stay out of direct sunlight, use umbrellas, drink plenty of water.. and enjoy your Hajj,' the official said. This comprehensive and well-coordinated effort, led by the Ministry of Health, aims to ensure pilgrims' access to high-quality medical care, strengthen the readiness of preventive and rapid response systems, and safeguard the health and safety of all pilgrims. These services are part of the kingdom's broader health vision under the Health Sector Transformation Programme and the Pilgrim Experience Programme – two key initiatives stemming from Saudi Vision 2030. These initiatives aim to provide exceptional healthcare that ensures the well-being and comfort of pilgrims as they perform their religious duties safely and with ease. Data released by the Ministry of Health indicates that nearly 49,000 pilgrims have received care at primary healthcare centres, while emergency departments have handled over 19,000 cases. Outpatient clinics have received nearly 1,000 patients, and more than 3,500 individuals have been admitted to hospitals, including 1,730 to intensive care units. In addition, the healthcare system has successfully handled 120 cardiac catheterisation procedures and 11 open-heart surgeries. Meanwhile, field medical teams have responded swiftly and efficiently to 25 cases of heat exhaustion. The healthcare system continues to operate at full capacity, guided by proactive planning and a fully integrated network of high-quality services. With the integration of drones, AI-powered decision-making, and 24-hour service, Saudi Arabia's health and security teams are demonstrating a new level of preparedness and inn
The Sun
10 hours ago
- Health
- The Sun
Hajj meds delivery sped up using drones
MAKKAH: The Health Emergency Operations Centre of the Saudi Ministry of Health has dramatically reduced the time required to deliver medications across Hajj sites from over an hour to just six minutes, thanks to the use of drones. This innovation marks a significant step forward in improving healthcare logistics and ensuring timely medical support for millions of pilgrims. Previously, delivering medication to specific Hajj locations could take up to one hour and twenty minutes. By deploying drones this year, the ministry has reduced this time to just six minutes. 'This technological advancement is a game-changer,' said an official during a foreign media visit to the Centre at Mina on Sunday, highlighting how the initiative aligns with the kingdom's commitment to enhancing healthcare services during one of the world's largest annual gatherings. The Health Emergency Operations Centre functions 24/7 and integrates real-time data from multiple hospitals, clinics, and ambulance services. All information flows in real time through electronic systems such as Electronic Medical Records (EMR) and Hospital Information Systems (HIS), allowing healthcare teams to make swift, informed decisions. 'This is an all-digital, fully integrated system,' an official explained. 'Every service provider, from the Ministry of Health to the Red Crescent Authority to private healthcare partners, is linked. Having everyone in the same room at the same time ensures coordinated decision-making and rapid responses.' As of June 1, the ministry reported that more than 81,000 healthcare services had been delivered to pilgrims since the beginning of the Hajj season for the year 1446 AH. The Health Emergency Operations Centre also supports public health monitoring, risk assessment, and rapid escalation when needed. In addition, pilgrims can call the 97 local number for health-related queries, where they will be connected directly to the most suitable service. The Unified Security Operations Centre (911), which works closely with the ministry, answers calls in under two seconds and relays reports to specialised teams within 45 seconds. The system can handle calls in nearly all global languages, ensuring that every pilgrim, regardless of nationality, receives the support they need. As the temperature rises during Hajj, health officials are urging pilgrims to take precautions against heat-related illnesses. 'My advice to all pilgrims is: rest when you can, stay out of direct sunlight, use umbrellas, drink plenty of water.. and enjoy your Hajj,' the official said. This comprehensive and well-coordinated effort, led by the Ministry of Health, aims to ensure pilgrims' access to high-quality medical care, strengthen the readiness of preventive and rapid response systems, and safeguard the health and safety of all pilgrims. These services are part of the kingdom's broader health vision under the Health Sector Transformation Programme and the Pilgrim Experience Programme – two key initiatives stemming from Saudi Vision 2030. These initiatives aim to provide exceptional healthcare that ensures the well-being and comfort of pilgrims as they perform their religious duties safely and with ease. Data released by the Ministry of Health indicates that nearly 49,000 pilgrims have received care at primary healthcare centres, while emergency departments have handled over 19,000 cases. Outpatient clinics have received nearly 1,000 patients, and more than 3,500 individuals have been admitted to hospitals, including 1,730 to intensive care units. In addition, the healthcare system has successfully handled 120 cardiac catheterisation procedures and 11 open-heart surgeries. Meanwhile, field medical teams have responded swiftly and efficiently to 25 cases of heat exhaustion. The healthcare system continues to operate at full capacity, guided by proactive planning and a fully integrated network of high-quality services. With the integration of drones, AI-powered decision-making, and 24-hour service, Saudi Arabia's health and security teams are demonstrating a new level of preparedness and inn
Yahoo
15-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Two more maternity services in the UK issued with warnings this week
Two maternity services in the UK have been issued with formal warnings in the past week, with one set to be closed for half a year. Both Yeovil maternity services in Somerset, England, and Ninewells Hospital in Tayside, Scotland, have been issued with warnings from their respective countries' watchdogs. It comes amid a growing number of maternity scandals across the UK, with a report last year finding across NHS England were inadequate or required improvement. A landmark inquiry also found that good care for pregnant women is "the exception rather than the rule". Yeovil maternity services will close for at least six months after a warning from the Care Quality Commission, with women now being sent more than 25 miles away to Taunton. The closure comes after the CQC warned the services were failing to meet staffing requirements in the paediatric unit. The service will be closed from Monday at 5pm, and comes almost exactly a year after the maternity unit was rated "inadequate" by the CQC. The local Liberal Democrat MP, Adam Dance, called the closure "devastating". "They will be forced to use already stretched services tens of miles away and I, like many of my constituents who have already been in contact, are deeply fearful this could leave families in turmoil," he said. 72 hours to have labour induced In Scotland, NHS Tayside has been formally ordered to improve maternity services at Ninewells Hospital following an unannounced inspection. Healthcare Improvement Scotland (HIS) first inspected Tayside in January, before returning a month later, after it raised a number of concerns, including that breastfeeding equipment was being cleaned in a sink with kitchen utensils. The latest report found some women faced delays of up to 72 hours to have their labour induced. It also found some staff were unsure of the location of emergency birthing medicine, as well as discovering that missing electrical leads meant only three out of five foetal heartbeat monitors were fully working. Read more: Donna Maclean, chief inspector of HIS, acknowledged that care was "compassionate" and "women we spoke with were complimentary of the care provided". But she added: "During the revisit, we were not assured that sufficient progress or improvement had been made with some concerns, and we formally wrote to NHS Tayside outlining areas of assurance required." 👉 👈 Every year, eye-watering sums are spent on maternity clinical negligence, including £1.1bn in 2023.
The Sun
12-05-2025
- Business
- The Sun
Columbia Asia expands services and tech
PETALING JAYA: Columbia Asia is setting sights on a new benchmark in private healthcare delivery in Malaysia, with a focus on data-driven expansion, cutting-edge technology and patient-centric services. Regional CEO Tom Lim (pic) said the healthcare provider is evolving to serve rapidly growing communities and the private hospital is adapting its care model for long-term national impact. 'Building on the momentum from 2024, Columbia Asia is intensifying efforts in 2025 with major expansions across its hospital network. A highlight is the upcoming launch of Columbia Asia Hospital, Batu Kawan in Penang, which will be the group's 13th hospital in Malaysia. 'The new facility will serve the fast-developing township of Bandar Cassia, home to a growing population, industrial activity, and international interest in medical tourism. 'This is a community that is expanding quickly but lacks comprehensive private healthcare. We saw a clear opportunity to fill that gap with a hospital designed around accessibility, affordability, and local partnerships,' he told SunBiz. Simultaneously, he noted that Columbia Asia is expanding its Cheras hospital to increase its capacity and introduce broader service offerings, further strengthening its position in the Klang Valley. 'Columbia Asia takes a multi-factorial approach when determining where to expand. We evaluate demographic trends, infrastructure readiness, and gaps in healthcare accessibility, using government and public data to design each hospital's core services. 'We are not just building hospitals, we study the communities that we are meant to serve. Every location is chosen for its potential impact, and every hospital is tailored to meet unique local health needs.' Furthermore, he said Columbia Asia continues to strengthen healthcare technology with the ongoing enhancement of its proprietary Hospital Information System (HIS), CARE21. 'Originally introduced in 2007 as one of Malaysia's first paperless systems in private healthcare, it is now being upgraded to Modern CARE21. 'This upgrade is central to how we deliver care, streamlining operations, reducing paperwork, and enabling faster decision-making across departments,' Lim noted. He said the hospital also leverages electronic medical records, mobile engagement apps, and telemedicine platforms to improve care coordination and patient accessibility, adding that these tools have been especially beneficial for chronic disease management, allowing patients to consult doctors and manage their conditions remotely. Recognising the shift toward preventive and personalised healthcare, Lim highlighted that Columbia Asia has launched its Health Transformation Programme (HTP), a lifestyle-oriented wellness initiative focused on behaviour modification. 'We are also rolling out a Prediabetic Care Programme designed to offer long-term, multidisciplinary care to patients at risk of chronic illnesses. 'We are moving beyond traditional treatment to empowering patients to manage their health proactively. This is how we create better, longer-lasting health outcomes,' he said. As urban areas grow and new townships take shape, he noted that Columbia Asia's approach continues to be rooted in accessibility. 'Each hospital is designed for easy navigation, clustered services, and affordability.'
Business Upturn
08-05-2025
- Business
- Business Upturn
Mastek collaborates with Zulekha Healthcare Group to implement Oracle Fusion Cloud suite
By Aman Shukla Published on May 8, 2025, 12:57 IST Mastek, a provider of digital engineering and cloud transformation services, has announced a strategic collaboration with Zulekha Healthcare Group, a healthcare provider based in the United Arab Emirates. The partnership involves the implementation of the Oracle Fusion Cloud suite, integrated with the Oracle Health (Cerner) system. The objective of this collaboration is to support Zulekha Healthcare Group's operational goals, including improvements in clinical workflows, financial management, inventory control, and compliance. The digital transformation aims to reduce manual processes and enhance data-driven decision-making across the organization. Zulekha Healthcare Group operates a network of medical facilities in the UAE, including two hospitals with a combined capacity of 285 beds. The Group employs more than 2,500 staff, including over 300 physicians and 600+ nursing and paramedical personnel. It also operates a smart medical fitness center that offers services such as medical assessments for visas, vaccinations, occupational health certification, and embassy-related medical documentation. Mastek will deploy a unified Oracle Fusion Cloud solution that will integrate with Zulekha's existing Hospital Information System (HIS) and Revenue Cycle Management (RCM) infrastructure. The deployment is intended to improve interoperability and system efficiency while aligning with industry standards. Mastek has previously completed more than 1,500 Oracle Cloud implementations across 40+ countries and offers over 100 industry-specific solutions. The company's healthcare sector experience and Oracle Cloud expertise were cited as key reasons for its selection as a digital transformation partner for this project. Aman Shukla is a post-graduate in mass communication . A media enthusiast who has a strong hold on communication ,content writing and copy writing. Aman is currently working as journalist at
