Health card registrations include renewals and issue of new ones for individuals and companies. Payments can be made with credit cards, explained Sina Khoory, IT department director.
Along with the health cards, DOHMS will try to start a service reminding patients of their medical appointments through phone messages or e-mail a day earlier. Suitable software is now under selection.
Though blood tests for residence visas still require a physical presence, application forms will be available online, he added.
DOHMS plans for the introduction of online issue of new and renewal of medical profession certificates (medical permits) for private sector physicians, pharmacists and nurses within the third quarter of 2002.
Sina Khoory |
Also during the same year, DOHMS plans a launch of its healthcare information system automating laboratories, radiology and pharmacies systems.
For this, DOHMS will electronise patients' records that can be accessed through pin codes; health card numbers.
The nucleus of the healthcare information system was initiated in 1999 under a DOHMS four to five-year overall automation plan, due for completion in 2003, said Khoory.
"The health card service can be seen on DOHMS web site or the e-government portal. Apart from individuals, companies will benefit because they can obtain monthly information on employees' health cards expiry and renewal dates. Health card numbers have to be keyed in for access.
"They can also remove or add an employee's name to the list."
"We are partnering with Comtrust to provide e-security infrastructure for validation of credit card payments. Comtrust will not store credit cards numbers," stressed Khoory.
"It will only pass messages to the concerned bank for approval of payment transaction without saving credit card details. DOHMS will receive a bank notification as a proof.
On the messaging service, Khoory said: "It will lessen the phenomenon of patients who do not attend their medical appointments. Service application forms will be distributed in hospitals and DOHMS to know whether they want to be alerted through e-mail or phone.
"DOHMS receives 1,200 new and renewal of health card applicants and 6,000 patients daily."
"The 2002 laboratories and radiology automation plan will enable physicians to send e-mails to laboratories on specimen and tests needed for patients. Radiology or any section will reply online."
Khoory stressed patients online information will enable researchers to find precise data on various diseases for their future studies. "We will have enough information on medicines subscribed to patients, laboratory tests and X-rays."
Internally, Khoory said DOHMS finalised the electronisation of its financial and administrative systems, using the Oracle financing package.
Servicing, purchases, finance, inventory, central stores and human resources departments are now online. "Stock control, store distribution, supplier payments, store requisitions are now automated in order to enhance work efficiency, speed up supplier payments, ensure control on stocks and improve procurement analysis and trends."
The internal online arrangement, however, will not lead to staff redundancy but 'repositioning of employees to smarter and new jobs', stressed Khoory.
DOHMS also introduced e-messaging within departments and access to the Internet, which increased the number e-mail users to 1,300 from 200 and Internet users to 350 from 20 earlier.
"Most of our senior staff, heads of sections, physicians, heads of units have access to e-mails. Staff researchers will also have Internet access."
