Abu dhabi: Emirates Health Services (EHS) has announced the availability of BYANNLI, developed by Johnson and Johnson, for patients with schizophrenia at Al Amal Psychiatric Hospital, one of its affiliated facilities. This makes Al Amal Psychiatric Hospital the first government hospital in the UAE to introduce this treatment.

According to Emirates News Agency, the medication is a long-acting therapy that can be administered once every six months, marking a significant advancement in the management of schizophrenia. Dr. Essam Al Zarooni, Executive Director of the Clinical Services Sector at EHS, underscored that the introduction of this treatment aligns with EHS's commitment to providing the latest internationally approved therapy options, reinforcing the UAE's global leadership in mental health services.

Dr. Noor Almheiri, Director of the Mental Health Department at EHS, highlighted that treatment continuity is a major challenge in managing chronic mental health conditions. She noted that BYANNLI offers an advanced option that aids in treatment continuity, reducing relapse risk, and achieving psychological and social stability for patients.

The introduction of BYANNLI responds to global advances in mental health, aiming to support sustained symptom control and reduce the need for repeated treatment doses. This approach enhances treatment adherence and medical follow-up effectiveness, contributing to efficient healthcare resource use and improved care outcomes.

Schizophrenia is a chronic and complex mental health disorder that affects patients, their families, and caregivers. Treatment sustainability and continuity of care are crucial in reducing relapse rates, enhancing stability, and improving quality of life, aligning with the UAE's National Strategy for Wellbeing 2031.

Al Amal Psychiatric Hospital has achieved remarkable results with long-acting treatments for chronic mental health disorders, reducing patient readmission rates to below 1%, raising treatment plan adherence to 93%, and improving psychiatric symptoms in 93% of patients.

By offering BYANNLI, Emirates Health Services continues to reinforce its approach of delivering proactive, integrated healthcare services grounded in innovation, quality, and sustainable care, supporting community health and the UAE's vision of a world-class healthcare system.