During the Arab Health Exhibition and Congress held on 30th January 2019, the Ministry of Health and Prevention (MOHAP) launched an initiative, in coordination with the Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship (FAIC) wherein, Emirates ID card will soon carry the health records of the residents including whether they wish to have their organs donated upon demise.
The new card will feature a smart chip that will have data about allergies, blood type, diagnosis, chronic disease and organ donation. It will initially be implemented in the ministry’s hospitals and primary healthcare centers. The data on this card will be made accessible to doctors across GCC countries.
The Ministry of Health and Prevention also launched the ‘Hayat’ app, where the residents can register online as organ donors. Mabarakah Mubarak Ibrahim, director of the information technology department at MOHAP said “After one’s death, sometimes the family says they have no idea that their loved one had shown a desire to donate their organs. But once the family member is registered, we can confirm this.” The system uses blockchain technology to ensure privacy for both the donor and the recipient.
