Abu Dhabi: The Department of Health – Abu Dhabi (DoH) has taken significant strides to enhance personalized medicine by empowering healthcare providers with Pharmacogenomic reports (PGx). These reports are accessible through the Malaffi platform, enabling personalized treatment plans for patients and improving the efficiency and quality of care in the emirate.
Malaffi, the Health Information Exchange (HIE) platform is operated by Abu Dhabi Health Data Services (ADHDS) – an M42 company. The introduction of Pharmacogenomic reports aims to enhance the quality and efficiency of healthcare outcomes and services for the community by offering more personalized treatment options based on patients’ genetic information. The genomic database provided by the Emirati Genome Program further safeguards the health and wellbeing of the community.
Pharmacogenomics, the study of how genes affect a person’s response to drugs, allows healthcare professionals to make informed decisions when prescribing medications. PGx reports offer healthcare professionals essential insights into how a patient’s genetic composition influences their response to medications.
By analyzing 23 pharmacogenes that affect 128 different drugs, these reports facilitate more informed medication choices, thereby reducing the risk of adverse drug reactions, anticipating potential drug interactions, and enhancing therapeutic outcomes.
Healthcare providers can now make tailored modifications to therapeutic regimens by considering drug interactions, pharmacokinetics (how the body metabolizes medications), and pharmacodynamics (the biochemical and physiological effects of drugs on the body), along with the results of pharmacogenomic testing to achieve optimal therapeutic outcomes.
Dr Asma Ibrahim Al Mannaei, the Executive Director of the Health Life Science Sector at DoH, said that, “The availability of PGx reports will help healthcare providers across Abu Dhabi create more efficient and effective treatment plans, averting 20-30 per cent of adverse drug reactions for eligible EGP participants based on individual genetic variables. The initiative is a significant milestone in DoH’s strategy to advance precision medicine for the wellbeing of the community and raise the profile of Abu Dhabi in the global healthcare landscape.”
Currently, pharmacogenomic reports are available for patients with specific conditions, including cancer, mental health issues, respiratory problems, gastrointestinal disorders, cardiovascular diseases, and infections.
Healthcare providers can order these tests for eligible patients, which include individuals over 40 who have not shown clinical improvement with their current medication, those hospitalized due to adverse drug reactions, and new patients prescribed certain medications.
Additionally, tests are available for 18–39-year-old Emirati Genome Program participants, on selected medications and patients with liver or kidney impairments taking drugs that may impact liver or kidney function.
The DoH is rolling out educational programs and resources to equip healthcare providers with the necessary knowledge and tools to utilize pharmacogenomic insights effectively. This initiative is part of a broader strategy to integrate innovative technologies and data-driven practices into the healthcare system, promoting a culture of personalized care.