DUBAI // High-speed health scanners will be introduced to government hospitals in a bid to reduce patient waiting times for a diagnosis.
The ultra-fast Revolution EVO CT scanners will be brought in at hospitals in Ras Al Khaimah, Fujairah, Sharjah city, Khor Fakkan, Umm Al Quwain, Kalba, Ajman, Al Dhaid and Dubai.
The high-definition equipment will allow doctors to examine patients more quickly and diagnose more life-threatening conditions such as cancer and heart problems.
The tomography scanners, which are made by GE Healthcare, will be safer as they by expose patients to less radiation than older equipment.
Their introduction is part of the Ministry of Health's commitment to strengthen healthcare delivery standards under its strategic vision for 2014 to 2016.
"One of the key pillars of our strategic vision is to enhance the preventative health system, which places the highest importance on diagnostic technologies," said Dr Mohammad Al Olama, undersecretary of the ministry.
"The introduction of advanced technologies at our hospitals will contribute to greater efficiency in patient care and contribute to the better health of the people."
It is hoped that the new CT scanning technology will help improve results and cut the cost of care by diagnosing more illnesses earlier.
GE Healthcare was awarded the contract to equip 11 hospitals with nine Revolution EVO CTs, two Discovery HD 750 CTs and provide training to hospital radiologists.
Maher Abouzeid, president and chief executive of the company in the region, said: "The Revolution EVO CT brings several advantages to healthcare practitioners by its ability to provide a definitive test and diagnostic confidence.
"It provides remarkable image quality and can help to achieve up to 40 per cent increased workflow efficiency for the hospital."
New technology will help the UAE to address the rise in heart disease, which accounts for almost 28 per cent of direct health costs.
Other pioneering tech will go on show at the 40th Arab Health Exhibition and Congress, which started on Monday at the Dubai International Convention Centre.
The region's biggest healthcare conference will bring together leading medical professionals from the most prestigious hospitals in the GCC over four days.
And for the first time, the GE Arab Health mobile application will help visitors to navigate their way through the new technologies GE will be unveiling.
By 2030, almost 80 per cent of deaths in the Middle East are forecast to result from chronic diseases. Growing rates of cardiovascular and oncological diseases are expected to place significant pressure on the region's healthcare systems.
"The increasing incidence of lifestyle diseases and population growth in the GCC has caused healthcare expenditure to increase by 10 per cent a year over the past five years," Mr Abouzeid said.
"To help cater for that increase, there is greater emphasis from governments to partner with companies that can provide complete solutions that deliver better outcomes."
This year's Arab Health congress will highlight innovations in areas including radiology, oncology, cardiology, women's and children's health, critical care and surgery.
Stand-out innovations on show include the Voluson E10, a 4D high-performance ultrasound system. It features the world's first curved matrix electronic 4D probe, designed for obstetrics and gynaecology.
It gives parents high-resolution images of unborn children and lets clinicians monitor the babies' brains and heart development.
nwebster@thenational.ae