The Ministry of Health and Prevention (MoHAP) revealed that it has developed a project (M-Gene) for evaluating and diagnosing the newborn to detect any genetic diseases or defects without the need to conduct blood test or any other specialized tests.
The AI-based project, which is an innovative service and research partnership, is considered as one of the latest smart technologies that it is being implemented in collaboration with the Sheikh Zayed Institute for Pediatric Surgical Innovation at the National Center in Washington, DC, USA.
The announcement came on the sidelines of MoHAP participation at GITEX Technology Week 2019 in Dubai.
The new M-Gene technology helps alleviate the tension and anxiety of children’s parents and provides immediate results. This allows doctors to determine whether the child needs to be examined by a medical geneticist or not.
Thousands of cases have benefitted from this technology which is currently available at four hospitals of MoHAP. The project will be applied in additional hospitals for women and children in the upcoming stage.
According to the project statistics, 1663 cases were evaluated and diagnosed, of which 1613 found normal and 49 were infected.
Diagnostic Face Reading with No Surgical Intervention and Immediate Results
H.E. Dr. Youssif Al Serkal, Assistant Undersecretary for the Ministry’s Hospitals Sector, said that MoHAP is the world’s first after Washington in implementing this technology and conducting researches on it.
Al Serkal added: “The M-Gene project provides a smart tool offering a diagnostic face reading for the newborn with immediate results and without the need to surgical intervention. M-Gene application can easily detect genetic diseases, thus enabling the doctor to examine the baby immediately after birth, with no need to take a blood test or any other specialized analysis.”
Integrating Artificial Intelligence by 100% in Medical Services
Al Serkal pointed out that such projects aim to promote the medical services provided by MoHAP’s hospitals to the highest competitive levels as per international standards, noting that the project is part of MoHAP’s efforts to enhance innovation and establish researches, clinical infrastructure, and partnerships with pioneering institutions in healthcare services.
He stressed that MoHAP is moving forward to integrate the Artificial Intelligence by 100% into medical services, in pursuance of the UAE Artificial Intelligence Strategy and Data Analysis by 100% by the year 2021, and also in line with the UAE Centennial 2071 to make a paradigm shift in the healthcare field.
Building National Capabilities in Research Projects
Al Serkal pointed to the importance of cooperation with the Sheikh Zayed Institute for Pediatric Surgical Innovation to develop a number of innovative projects and joint research activities, with a view to fostering healthcare services and the continued the coordination in building national capabilities and training on innovative technologies.
This comes as part of MoHAP’s strategy to build quality systems and therapeutic safety, as well as to enhance the use of smart technologies, in accordance with the UAE Government trends such as the UAE Vision 2021 and National Innovation Strategy.