Mobile health apps will reduce burden on hospitals

• Image Credit: Supplied
• One of mHealth’s goals is to securely connect patients to physicians using devices such as smartphones.

Abu Dhabi: There is an urgent need to implement mobile health solutions as cases of chronic diseases increase in Gulf states, health experts said.

Speaking on the sidelines of the mHealth summit Middle East held in Abu Dhabi last week, Michael Morgan-Curran, global director of mobile health and diabetes at mobile operators association GSMA, said mobile health care services must be standardised  so data can be shared by multiple health care facilities and professionals.

“For example, many apps collect  blood glucose levels of patients on a daily basis, but this information is often not sent to a physician who can track changes and advise the patient accordingly,” he said.

“Moreover, each facility collects this information in a different format. As a result, the patient’s medical history cannot be used by another organisation, and each needs to duplicate the data collection process unnecessarily.