Accra:As part of ongoing government efforts to improve service quality and re-engineer procedures, the Ministry of Health has enhanced its Genomics Consultation Clinic service by launching a new Virtual Genomics Clinic service. This service provides remote medical consultations to facilitate access to specialized genetic counseling in accordance with the highest modern medical standards.
According to Ministry of Health - Bahrain, the enhanced service reduces the number of steps to four and shortens the service completion time from six months to five days. Improvements also include a 50% reduction in required documents and a reduction of at least 25% in the service-level agreement timeframe. The application process is limited to a maximum of four steps, and information is standardized across all channels.
Dr. Lulwa Rashid Shuwaiter, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Health, stated that the Virtual Genomics Clinic provides remote genetic consultations for patients, participants in the National Genome Project, and families with hereditary diseases, without requiring in-person attendance. The service includes case assessments, explanations of genetic test results, pharmacogenomics consultations, and medical counseling.
The virtual clinic is pivotal in maximizing the health and strategic impact of the National Genome Project by translating genetic data into actionable health knowledge, identifying potential health risks, and guiding beneficiaries towards preventive interventions. It improves access to care and enables consultations without in-person visits, supporting Bahrain's efforts towards personalized medicine and sustainable healthcare.
Furthermore, over 1,300 government services have been documented, translated, and published, with 800 services undergoing development and re-engineering. These efforts, informed by feedback from the national Tawasul Suggestions and Complaints System, investor feedback, and mystery shopper reports, aim to improve service quality and advance digital government transformation.