Emirates Health Services Holds Seventh Session of the Patient and Family Advisory Council at the Philosophy House in Fujairah
As part of its commitment to enhancing community engagement and empowering patients and their families to actively contribute to improving the healthcare system, the Emirates Health Services (EHS) held the seventh session of the Patient and Family Advisory Council at the Philosophy House in Fujairah. The session served as an interactive platform to discuss ways to elevate the quality of healthcare services and enhance customer experience efficiency. This aligns with EHS’s vision for a more integrated and sustainable healthcare system, reinforces a culture of community partnership, and ensures healthcare services align with the objectives of the “We the UAE 2031” vision.
Dr. Aisha Mohammed Suhail, Chairwoman of the Patient and Family Advisory Council at EHS, emphasized that amplifying the patient’s voice as a key component in decision-making is a cornerstone of the strategic transformation in the healthcare sector. She stated: “EHS is working to build an integrated model that goes beyond service delivery to empowering customers and engaging them as partners in shaping health policies and enhancing quality of life. The Patient and Family Advisory Council is central to this vision, serving as a national platform that embodies collaborative care to achieve more sustainable health outcomes.”
The session began with a tour of the Philosophy House, where attendees learned about the center’s objectives and facilities. This was followed by a field visit to the Al-Faseel Family Health Promotion Center, where participants evaluated the customer journey within the “Itmenan” service for early detection of non-communicable diseases. This preventive care model aims to reduce rates of treatable diseases through proactive screening and preventive interventions.
Discussions focused on premarital medical examinations, particularly the mandatory genetic testing introduced earlier this year. The session explored mechanisms to enhance this service, including improving reporting positive results and providing tailored support for couples to make informed health decisions in collaboration with genetic specialists, ensuring both individual privacy and community well-being.
The council also addressed ways to improve the customer experience within the “Itmenan” service, leveraging its role as a key evaluator of healthcare services to propose enhancements that promote inclusivity, empathy, and stronger interaction between patients and the healthcare system.
In closing, the council members presented a series of recommendations. These included the development of a comprehensive awareness campaign in collaboration with stakeholders to highlight the importance of premarital genetic testing, as well as the establishment of effective support mechanisms for positive cases to enable informed health decisions. Additionally, the council stressed the need to strengthen integration between the “Itmenan” initiative and health education programs to elevate the customer experience. Members further emphasized the importance of ensuring patient representatives participate in the design and evaluation of future early screening service models.
