Health Minister Dr. Abdullah Al-Rabeeah launched Sunday a comprehensive database for medical and clinical information for the benefit of health service providers and patients.
The minister said that the access to the database is sourced from UpToDate, a software system for medical databases, and the British Medical Journal (BMJ), with whom the Ministry of Health had already signed agreements to gain access to its medical and clinical evidence and information.
Al-Rabeeah said that online services are being introduced to help medics and paramedics stay up to date with the latest advances in the field of medicine. The database will have more than 10 million pieces of information.
He also said that the program will be implemented in accordance with the “Patient First” program recently introduced by him and that the latest developments in the health sector are being implemented within the framework of the vision of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosque King Abdullah.
More than 750,000 clinicians in 158 countries rely on the UpToDate software.
Access to trusted, evidence-based medical information covering more than 10,000 clinical topics in over 20 specialties will be made available throughout the Kingdom to every Internet user via the Ministry of Health Portal (http://www.moh.gov.sa).
Last year, Tim Brooks, CEO of BMJ, one of the most respected medical journals in the world, joined the Ministry of Health in signing the agreement between the Saudi government and the BMJ under the title “Executive Agreement for Cooperation in Health Learning and Research.”
“We look forward to working closely with the Saudi government to deliver bespoke solutions to some of the key health care challenges they face,” said Brooks.
“Our extensive knowledge and experience working with governments around the world, including the UK’s National Health Service and the Ministry of Health in Brazil, make BMJ the perfect partner to drive the development of high quality, evidence-based health care in Saudi Arabia.”
The signing ceremony took place at the Department of Health headquarters in London along with Undersecretary of State for Health Anna Soubry.
The partnership involved BMJ’s expert teams working closely with the Saudi government to address key health care challenges through joint research and knowledge-sharing.
Database of medical and clinical facts launched
