RIYADH: Bayer announced the launch of the first digital service in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia that allows patients with pulmonary hypertension to communicate with medical staff and obtain medical advice, as it was created with the aim of addressing the gaps that may hinder the diagnosis or treatment process caused by the procedures of the Covid-19 virus pandemic. The announcement was made during the fifteenth annual conference of the Saudi Society of Pulmonary Hypertension.
The digital platform AAN, which is the result of a collaboration between Bayer and the Saudi Society of Pulmonary Hypertension, aims to support the diagnosis, follow-up and treatment of this disease by facilitating referrals and knowledge exchange between experts, clinicians and patients.
Pulmonary hypertension is an acute, progressive and life-threatening disorder of the lungs and heart, where the blood pressure in the pulmonary arteries is higher than normal, often resulting in heart failure and death.
Patients develop high blood pressure in the arteries of the lungs, which causes shortness of breath and fatigue in the body, which impedes their ability to work and carry out normal daily activities such as walking short distances or climbing stairs.
The disease may affect people of all ages, including children, and the incidence may increase to 10% in individuals over the age of 65 years.
Speaking about the importance of this step, Hussain Al-Hakim, Managing Director and Head of Pharmaceuticals at Bayer in Saudi Arabia, said: “At Bayer Middle East, we primarily aim to improve the health of individuals, and we believe that digital transformation endeavors in the healthcare sector. It makes it easier for us to achieve this, especially for pulmonary hypertension patients in the Kingdom.By having a central platform for awareness, counseling and referral, we can not only help patients manage the disease in their daily lives, but also enhance its prevention through early diagnosis and frequent checkups. We look forward to continuing to support innovation in healthcare in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia as it approaches the realization of Vision 2030.
Abdullah Al-Dhalan, President of the Saudi Pulmonary Hypertension Society said: “As the health sector prioritizes confronting the Coronavirus pandemic, pulmonologists face challenges in reaching people with this disease and providing the diagnostic and therapeutic tests they need, which called for the need to find a digital solution that adapts to The needs of the current era are in line with the objectives of the National Health Transformation Program. He added, “By launching the country’s first digital hub, we aim to address these challenges remotely, bridge the gap between patients and specialists, and enhance overall disease management in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
After a meeting of experts to discuss the future of treatment for the disease in the Kingdom, Bayer worked closely with the Saudi Society of Pulmonary Hypertension to develop the first digital solution of its kind in the country that provides two customized interfaces for patients and specialists.
The digital service AAN will allow patients with pulmonary hypertension to communicate with medical staff and obtain medical consultations in virtual clinics, in addition to providing a knowledge library to enhance awareness of diseases. On the other hand, medical staff will be able to make referrals easier, they will be able to have a detailed history of patients in Saudi Arabia, and they will have an easy-to-use platform to manage individual cases.”
The digital platform, which will be made available for free download on both iOS and Android, was officially launched at the 15th annual conference of the Saudi Pulmonary Hypertension Society, where it was presented to healthcare professionals who were in attendance. In order to protect patient privacy, doctors and specialists will create individual accounts for their patients using unique identifiers that will be required to access the app. Patients will be able to access the platform during the next phase of application completion which is scheduled to take place in April-May 2022.
About Bayer
Bayer is a global organization with core competencies in the life sciences, such as healthcare and nutrition, whose products and services are designed for the good of people and the prosperity of the world by supporting efforts to overcome the major challenges posed by the aging and growing world.
Bayer is committed to advancing sustainable development and making a positive impact on the world through its business, while the group aims to increase its profitability and create value through innovation and growth. The Bayer brand also represents the values of trust, reliability and quality worldwide.
In fiscal year 2020, the group employed nearly 100,000 people and generated sales of nearly €41.4 billion; Its expenditures on research and development, before including special components, amounted to 4.9 billion euros
