Royal Philips, a global leader in health technology, has collaborated with Malaffi to launch the region’s first Health Information Exchange (HIE) platform and strategic initiative of the Department of Health – Abu Dhabi (DoH).
Through the signing of an agreement during Arab Health 2024, Malaffi is officially recognised as a global reference site for Philips' Image Exchange Solution.
This is an extension of a successful partnership established in 2022 that enabled the Malaffi HIE platform to include the exchange of medical images among diverse facilities and IT systems. Malaffi facilitates the seamless and secure transfer of key patient healthcare information such as allergies, laboratory results, diagnosis, conditions and others.
Philips offers a suite of image exchange solutions to meet the country-specific needs and regulations of health systems, HIEs and various exchange networks across the globe. So far, the Malaffi Image Exchange Solution has connected 64 healthcare facilities that provide radiology imaging services across Abu Dhabi, enabling the secure exchange of more than 90 per cent of all radiology images produced in the emirate annually. By the end of the first quarter of 2024, it is anticipated that the solution will achieve full connectivity, linking all 67 facilities, and capturing 100 per cent of images.
This agreement underscores Philips' commitment to showcasing the best practice of how its technology facilitates sharing medical images across different facilities, fully integrated within a Health Information Exchange (HIE) platform. The HIE Solution ensures a reliable and standardised method for exchanging patient and clinical data and is a catalyst for revolutionising healthcare interoperability, empowering providers to share information and medical images seamlessly and securely, ultimately enhancing patient care to unprecedented levels.
The adoption of Health Information and Medical Images Exchange not only streamlines the exchange of information and images but also eliminates the time, expense, and risks associated with handling physical documents and media. Reducing the duplication of scans reduces healthcare costs, saves patients from unnecessary radiation exposure, and improves patient safety and experience. This shift towards digital sharing enhances the overall effectiveness of healthcare operations by mitigating the challenges posed by conflicting or missing information, enabling more accurate decision-making.
Dr Samir Said, General Manager, Connected Care and Healthcare Informatics, Philips Middle East, Türkiye and Africa (META) said: "This global reference site agreement with Malaffi showcases the incredible impact of Philips technology on shaping the future of healthcare. Together with Malaffi, we are setting a new standard for sharing medical images digitally and securely, a move that is bound to enhance patient care and outcomes. We’re on a mission to revolutionise how medical information is shared, setting the stage for a seamless and efficient future in healthcare. This collaboration isn’t just about technology; it’s about making healthcare better for everyone."
Kareem Shahin, CEO of Abu Dhabi Health Data Services, said: "We are immensely proud to have joined the ranks of leading HIEs globally with our fully integrated Image Exchange Solution, a result of our partnership with Philips. This feature has been transformative for our clinicians and patients and has spearheaded our leadership in digital healthcare innovation. Setting a new standard in the dynamic landscape of healthcare technology, being inaugurated as a global reference site for Philip’s solution enables us to advocate for cutting-edge interoperability solutions that have a profound impact on the entire healthcare eco-system."
The Image Exchange Solution facilitates swift collaboration among physicians, enhancing diagnostic speed and treatment outcomes. This accomplishment highlights Abu Dhabi's visionary strides in digital transformation within the healthcare sector.
