Dubai Thalassemia Centre wins Excellence in Patient Centred Care Award at Arab Health 2013

The Thalassemia centre in Dubai is the Emirate's only dedicated centre to manage this condition and provides internationally recognized levels of care in chronic disease management for Thalassemic patients.

Thalassaemia is an inherited blood disorder in which the body makes an abnormal form of haemoglobin, the protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen. This results in excessive destruction of red blood cells leading to anemia.

Therefore majority of patients have to undergo regular blood transfusions and get rid of the [extra] iron in their bodies.

The centre provides advanced levels of care and support to these patients to ensure that they can live a normal life to the maximum extent possible.
Dr Khawla Belhoul, Director of Dubai Thalassemia Centre thanked all her staff members for their commitment and dedication towards patient centered care.

She said that the centre has 28 beds, provides services to 834 patients, of which 48% are Emiratis and 52% are expatriates.

She mentioned that the centre has all necessary equipment to provide services to patients such as blood transfusions etc and the fact that the Dubai Blood Donation Centre is located adjacent to this centre, is an advance, due to the regular blood supply needed by Thalassemic patients.

She added that the centre provides several support programs for patients including helping them find jobs, sending them abroad for recreational holidays so that they get a break from the monotony of regular treatments etc.

The centre has social workers and a physiology department that provides counseling to patients and their family members to help them cope with the disease.