Patients with schizophrenia in the UAE will soon have access to a long-acting treatment that requires administration only once every six months after Emirates Health Services introduced the therapy at Al Amal Psychiatric Hospital.
The facility has become the first government hospital in the country to offer BYANNLI, a treatment designed to provide sustained control of symptoms while reducing the need for frequent medication doses.
Health officials said the treatment could help improve adherence, reduce the risk of relapse and ease the pressure placed on patients, families and caregivers by regular treatment schedules.
Dr Essam Al Zarooni, Executive Director of the Clinical Services Sector at EHS, said the introduction of the therapy reflected the organisation’s commitment to providing internationally approved treatments and improving mental healthcare in line with global standards.
He described the move as an important development in mental healthcare and said it would give patients access to more sustainable care while supporting EHS’s focus on integrated services centred on patient needs, quality of life and long-term health outcomes.
Schizophrenia is a chronic mental health condition that can affect a person’s thoughts, emotions and behaviour. Maintaining consistent treatment is considered important for managing symptoms and reducing the likelihood of relapse.
However, keeping up with regular medication schedules can be difficult for many people living with long-term mental health conditions.
Dr Noor Almheiri, Director of the Mental Health Department at EHS, said continuity of treatment remained one of the major challenges associated with chronic psychiatric conditions.
She said the six-month treatment provided an advanced option that could support regular care, reduce relapse risks and help patients achieve greater psychological and social stability.
Almheiri said better treatment continuity and regular follow-up could also have positive effects on patients’ families and caregivers.
EHS said Al Amal Psychiatric Hospital had already recorded positive results from the use of long-acting treatments for chronic mental health disorders.
The hospital reported that patient readmission rates had fallen below 1%, while treatment adherence had reached 93%. It also said 93% of patients had experienced significant improvements in psychiatric symptoms.
The introduction of BYANNLI comes as healthcare providers increasingly explore longer-acting treatments to support patients who face challenges with frequent medication schedules.
EHS said the initiative was aligned with the UAE’s National Strategy for Wellbeing 2031 and the objectives of the Year of Family.
The health authority said the treatment was part of a wider effort to develop more sustainable models of mental healthcare and improve long-term outcomes for patients living with chronic psychiatric conditions.
