Sharjah24: The Ministry of Health and Prevention, MoHAP, has launched the Dr. Invivo 4D Bioprinting technology, which is believed to be a paradigm shift in the regenerative and biomedicine and it opens a new era of the treatment of diabetic foot, chronic wounds, and burns.

The new technology comes within the framework of MoHAP’s programs and plans to improve the quality of healthcare services provided to patients, offer the latest therapeutic methods, and deliver world-class, comprehensive, and innovative health services.

At Al-Qassimi hospital, an Emirati medical team led by Dr. Saqr Al Mualla, Deputy Technical Director of Al Qasimi Hospital, Head of the Department of Plastic, Reconstructive, and Burns, and the medical team in the Plastic Surgery Department, in cooperation with a Korean medical staff, performed the region’s first of its kind surgery using the Dr. Invivo 4D Bioprinter.

The Live-streamed surgery was conducted in the presence of senior officials from the health ministry and media representatives to cover this significant milestone across the Middle East, while training workshops and lectures for specialists on regenerative medicine wound treatment, 3D and 4D bioprinting were held in conjunction.

Investment in health innovation

His Excellency Abdul Rahman bin Mohammed Al-Owais, the Minister of Health, said: “MoHAP pays great attention to leveraging all technological innovations in the healthcare sector and exploring healthcare future to realize the objectives of the next fifty years preparation plan.”

Highlighting MoHAP’s abundant resources and capabilities that can help it achieve an innovative health model and enhance its competitiveness, Al-Owais affirmed that the ministry is moving forward steadily towards upgrading medical services and equipment, providing the latest treatment methods, keeping up to date with the recent medical innovations, developing the skills of its surgical staff, and reinforcing international partnerships with long-standing health institutions.

Al-Owais commended the outstanding skills and competence of Emirati medical staff and their success in conducting rare and complex surgeries, using the latest medical technologies, something that enhances the confidence in our local staff and institutions.

“In doing so, we’ll consolidate the capabilities of our health system and take one step further towards the health leadership globally, thanks to the forward-looking vision and unlimited support of the wise leadership to the health sector, as well as its keenness to achieve the sustainable development in all sectors in the UAE,” the Health Minister concluded.

An excellence centre to be launched soon

His Excellency Dr. Youssif Al Serkal, Director-General of the Emirates Health Services Corporation, emphasized MoHAP’s commitment to providing the latest medical innovations, ensuring the delivery of optimal healthcare services, promoting innovation and excellence, and adopting the best treatment methods in its hospitals, pointing out that the ministry’s healthcare services have seen a quantum leap in incorporating modern technology, such as the use of Dr. Invivo 4D Bioprinting technology which can radically change the lives of patients with chronic wounds, diabetic foot, and burns.

Lauding the highly qualified and competent local medical team, Al-Serkal hinted that the Ministry of Health will launch the region’s first training and excellence center for doctors, allowing the training of a large number of physicians to use the new technology in the Middle East countries. This comes as part of the state’s efforts to upgrade the skills of national medical cadres as a sustainable strategy.

The new technology and how it works

Speaking on the mechanism of action of Dr. Invivo 4D Bioprinting technology, Dr. Saqr Al Mualla said: “The doctor extracts cells from the adipose tissues to treat them. After using the 4D bioprinting technology, he applies the skin graft to cover the wound. It’s about 45-minute procedure, while wound healing takes from 2 to 4 week only, compared to 6 months in conventional methods.”

Al Mualla explained that the patient with the diabetic foot will do this procedure only once, stressing that patients can resume their life normally soon after the operation and without the need for long hospital stays. He added: “So far, no side effects or postoperative complications have been reported.”