Al Qassimi Women’s & Children’s Hospital becomes first across UAE to install ‘Minimed 780G’ latest insulin pump for a patient with diabetes: EHS

Dubai UAE

Sallam Sallam

Another significant medical milestone was revealed by the Emirates Health Services (EHS) after the medical team of Al Qassimi Women’s & Children’s Hospital has successfully inserted the ‘Medtronic Minimed 780G’ for a patient with type 1 diabetes for the first time in the UAE. 

‘Minimed 780G’ is the world’s latest insulin pump system. The MiniMed™ 780G system automatically adjusts insulin delivery to patient needs for an easier way to stabilise glucose levels, using modern medical technologies and algorithms. It features an advance level of automation for diabetes management. It can also correct high glucose levels during sleep and thus avoiding undesirable consequences.

This comes as part of the EHS’s efforts to upgrade its therapeutic services and enhance the confidence in the quality and efficiency of healthcare services in the country.

Tangible results have appeared since the first weeks of using the new pump, where the percentage of time in the normal range has jumped to 94% as opposed to 62% in the previous pump, without any hypoglycemic episodes. These results are attributed to the use of artificial intelligence and algorithms that allow the insulin infusion to be paused and restarted automatically without patient intervention.

Innovative health services

Congratulating Al Qassimi Women’s & Children’s Hospital on the achievement which contributes to further supporting patients with diabetes and helping them manage their disease and reduce its complications, HE Dr. Youssef Mohamed Alserkal, Director-General of the EHS, said: “This falls within the EHS’s relentless efforts to provide an effective and sustainable healthcare system for a happy and healthy society and optimize resources and raise quality for both healthcare providers and patients.”

Al Serkal added: “The EHS works hard to attract the latest treatment solutions, provide a robust medical technical environment and infrastructure for health services, sustainable, integrated, available, effective, innovative and high-quality health services that keep pace with the UAE Vision and international standards, and thus enhancing the state’s leadership in its constant endeavors to offer the latest medical innovations for patients and society.”

He further said that the EHS is keen to expand its global partnerships network and constantly develop the skills of specialized cadres and provide them with the appropriate training opportunities, in line with its strategy to establish sustainable healthcare services. The EHS is also committed to utilizing the latest medical innovations that improve patients’ quality of life and help them to optimally deal with their disease, Al-Serkal added.

Unstinting support

Lauding the unstinting support of the EHS, as well as the provision of the latest medical equipment and technologies and enhancing the capabilities and skills of the medical staff with the necessary training, Dr. Safia Al Khaja, Director of Al Qassimi Women’s and Children’s Hospital, said the insertion of the latest insulin pump system for a patient for the first time in the UAE effectively contributes to further supporting patients with diabetes and improving their quality of life in accordance with international best practices.

An innovative method

Dr. Elham Al Amiri, Consultant Pediatric Endocrinologist and Diabetologist, Al Qassimi Hospital for Women and Children, and Vice President of the Friends of Diabetes Association, said: “The ‘Medtronic Minimed 780G’ pump serves as an innovative way to pump insulin. The pump can help patients more closely mimic the way a healthy pancreas does. It replaces the need for frequent injections by delivering precise doses of rapid-acting insulin 24 hours a day to closely match your body’s needs.”

She pointed to the importance of patients’ adherence to doctor’s instructions and treatment protocol, since they need to be closely monitored and more time and experience before using the pump themselves.