The finest healthcare in the world is known to be in UAE. Also, there are 181 doctors per 100,000 residents. The top areas for medical tourism include orthopaedics, sports medicine, dermatology, dentistry, and fertility treatment. Healthcare is provided both by the state and privately, but the cost of this depends on your immigration status.
From all around the world quality healthcare workers have arrived in UAE to provide top-notch care. The high quality of healthcare is probably why medical tourism is thriving in the country. The Ministry of Health and Prevention (MOHAP) is responsible for overseeing healthcare in the country, however, healthcare is usually dealt with by a health authority in each Emirate.
The provision of healthcare has grown quickly. So, for the further strategy of UAE healthcare, there was a meeting held in Dubai. In line with the aspirations of the city of Dubai and to provide the population and visitors of Dubai with the highest quality of specialized access to healthcare in an ever-evolving digital environment, the Dubai Health Authority, DHA, recently discussed its priorities until 2071. The meeting was headed by Humaid Al Qutami, the Director-General of DH.
Al Qutami expressed his thanks and gratitude to President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister, and Ruler of Dubai; His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces and Their Highnesses Members of the Supreme Council and Rulers of the Emirates. Al Qutami thanked His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, and H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of the Executive Council, for supporting Dubai’s healthcare sector. He also thanked H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum, DHA President, Deputy Ruler of Dubai, and UAE Minister of Finance, for guiding the development and transformation of Dubai’s medical sector.
By 2040, health care as we know it today will no longer exist. There will be a fundamental shift from “health care” to “health.” And while disease will never be eliminated, through science, data, and technology, we will be able to identify it earlier, intervene proactively, and better understand its progression to help consumers more effectively and actively sustain their well-being. The future will be focused on wellness and managed by companies that assume new roles to drive value in the transformed health ecosystem.
10 archetypes are likely to emerge and will replace and redefine today’s traditional life sciences and health care roles to power the future of health. The 10 archetypes will fall into three distinct, but interconnected, categories:
- Data and Platforms
- Well-being and care delivery
- Care enablement
These archetypes fall into three distinct, but interconnected, categories
1. Data convener
Data-gathering organizations will have an economic model built around aggregating and storing individual, population, institutional, and environmental data. They will also promote interoperability and help ensure privacy/security. Data will be used to drive the future of health.
2. Science and insights engine
Some organizations will likely have an economic model driven by their ability to derive insights and define the algorithms that power the future of health. These organizations will conduct research, develop analytical tools, and generate data insights that go far beyond human capabilities in care delivery.
3. Data and platform infrastructure builder
This new world of health will need infrastructure and platforms that can serve highly empowered and engaged individuals in real-time. Data and platform infrastructure builders will develop and manage site-less health infrastructure to link consumers and health stakeholders and set standards for platform components.
As the UAE is almost entirely reliant on imports of medical devices, abundant opportunities are available for medical device companies to meet the country’s growing demand. The increasing presence of global manufacturers in the UAE medical devices market will support the dominance of distributor-mediated sales as these companies require local distributor partnerships to sell their devices in UAE. Innovative surgical interventions like autonomous surgical robots and intelligent balloon catheters will enhance outcomes of complex surgeries and enable new forms of minimally invasive surgeries. UAE medical devices are expected to grow at a CAGR of 6.7% during 2020-2025, generating revenue of over USD 2 billion in 2025.
The upcoming trends for UAE healthcare are:
- Accelerated digital adoption to improve patient outcome
Digital technology is allowing patients to become active partners in their care and to manage long-term conditions. Virtual consultations, telemedicine, digitally enabled and supported intensive care units (tele-ICUs), remote monitoring services, lab diagnostics at home and online ordering of medicines are being increasingly adopted by healthcare providers.
- Growth of resilient local supply chains
The pandemic exposed vulnerabilities in supply chains as difficulties in sourcing and supplying personal protection equipment (PPE), testing supplies and some vaccines demonstrated local gaps and global interdependencies. In the UAE, on shoring of pharma manufacturing for Sinopharm and other vaccines will likely drive future demand for locally produced pharmaceuticals in the GCC.
- Integration of healthcare and smart cities
Smart cities aim to improve citizens’ lives through connected technology. In the UAE, the government’s Smart City strategy is enhancing mobility, healthcare, safety, and social connectedness. There will be a greater focus on integrating various touchpoints of daily life to optimize the way a city is designed and works, much like a new project that marries urban infrastructure with technology to improve people’s lives and how they interact with their environment.
We propose three new strategic goals that could drive the UAE to become a global leader and strategic partner of choice for healthcare science and innovation:
- A national Life sciences strategy.
- A national digital health strategy.
- Growing and attracting talent.
Digital health must be at the core of the 2071 centennial health strategy. The UAE has done much to bridge the gap between digital health technology advances and drafting regulations enabling digital health, but much more needs to be done.
