More Dubai residents get medical care at home. Here is how

Dubai: More Dubai residents are getting health care services at home, thanks to a major transformation led by Dubai Health, which has rapidly expanded its telehealth, home delivery, and community care services to bring medical care that meets patients where they are.

The measurable growth in patient-focused services, aligned with Dubai Health’s primary value of ‘Patient First’ was revealed after a meeting of Dubai Health’s Board of Directors chaired by Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Dubai Health in the presence of Sheikh Mansoor bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors of Dubai Health.

Latest figures released by Dubai Health show that telemedicine, which has become a preferred option for many since the pandemic, is increasingly becoming popular.

Between 2022 and 2024, teleconsultations grew by 17.7%, with Dubai Health delivering 256,350 virtual consultations — rising from 78,969 in 2022 to 92,930 in 2024. Patients are increasingly choosing digital appointments over traditional clinic visits for both convenience and continuity of care, supporting the goals of Dubai’s Digital Strategy.

Meanwhile, medicine home deliveries have seen explosive growth, rising 189% from 37,724 in 2022 to nearly 109,000 in 2024, drastically reducing the need for pharmacy visits. Whether it is chronic medication refills or post-consultation prescriptions, more residents are opting for doorstep service.

This growing trend of accessing remote healthcare is also being supported by the Patient Transport Service.

Launched two years ago to help patients reach healthcare facilities for appointments and treatments, it is designed to offer safe, comfortable, and dignified transport, Dubai Health said.

The service saw usage increase over six fold in just one year — from 862 in 2023 to 5,365 in 2024.

Home medical visits are also on the rise. The home care programme grew by 68% over three years, from 23,277 in 2022 to 39,114 in 2024.

“This reflects Dubai Health’s commitment to delivering care that is accessible, consistent, and centred around patient comfort,” said Dubai Health.

Behind the scenes, Dubai Health’s call centre handled nearly 5 million calls over three years, ensuring patient needs are met quickly and professionally, often without requiring a physical visit.

Underpinning all these efforts reflecting a system increasingly focused on care that meets patients where they are, is the Patient Journey Redesign Programme, a system-wide initiative that rethinks the full patient experience.

By optimising 45 care pathways, which represent 68% of Dubai’s patient population, the programme ensures treatment is smooth, coordinated, and less reliant on clinic-based interactions.

The meeting was attended by Dr Raja Easa Al Gurg, Abdulla Abdul Rahman Al Shaibani, Professor Sir Ian Andrew Greer, Walid Saeed Al Awadhi, Mohammed Hassan Al Shehhi, Dr Amer Sharif, CEO of Dubai Health, and Professor Alawi Alsheikh-Ali, representing the Mohammed Bin Rashid University of Medicine and Health Sciences (MBRU). The figures were revealed when the officials toured Dubai Health’s Operations Centre.

Dr Amer Sharif emphasised the importance of the community’s inputs in shaping healthcare services, noting that public feedback on healthcare experiences has become a key pillar in driving improvement efforts. “Initiatives such as the launch of the Press Ganey patient experience programme and the ‘Dubai Health Majalis: Voice of the Community’ reflect Dubai Health’s commitment to listening closely to the community and meeting them where they are — in alignment with the objectives of the Year of Community 2025,” he added.