Telemedical consultations could be “key” to addressing the rising costs of treating and managing diabetes in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), according to a new report.
The study published by the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) showed that in 2020 the number of telemedicine clinics for patients with diabetes increased by 90% in both countries. Prior to the pandemic, growth of around 10% per year was recorded, with the practice “largely untapped”.
Looking ahead, it is forecast that with the loosening of lockdown restrictions, a new hybrid care model will become the new norm for diabetes management in the GCC areas.
“A balance is struck when patients switch between face-to-face and virtual appointments,” states the Abbott-sponsored paper. “This has become easier with the introduction of new, more user-friendly self-monitoring tools.”
THE GREATER CONTEXT
According to the report, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates are experiencing “explosive growth in the prevalence and incidence of diabetes,” with the Gulf states having some of the highest rates of the disease in the world.
During the lockdown, telemedicine not only played an important role in continuous, networked care, but also proved to be a cost-effective and time-efficient alternative, the paper says. The majority of respondents reported having “high levels of satisfaction with virtual sessions” with telemedicine viewed as “essential” to maintaining satisfactory glucose control.
In addition, telemedicine was found to support mental well-being throughout the events of the pandemic by “reducing depression and anxiety” in patients with diabetes.
“It has become imperative for national health, as well as for health budgets, to take full advantage of better, more innovative and sustainable management and prevention tools,” the report continued.
Although some challenges – such as access and operational and technical issues – remain, the report concluded that telemedicine remains in diabetes management.
“Indications suggest that new hybrid care models will emerge in the future that include personal care, remote care and predictive modeling to support real-time care,” it said.
ON THE RECORD
“Today, continuous glucose monitoring systems enable people with diabetes to better monitor their glucose levels without the routine pricking of the fingers and to voluntarily share valuable information with their treating physicians via secure cloud-based digital tools,” said Hani Khasati, Regional Director for Abbott’s diabetes care business. “These life changing systems extend HbA1c time in the area and improve clinical outcomes while reducing the need for in-person hospital appointments.”
