Taking centre stage globally
The UAE has emerged as one of the world’s leading healthcare hubs and medical tourism destinations – here’s how it got there
The UAE’s prompt and focused response to restrict the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic and its ensuing successful vaccination programme – over 24.7 million doses have been administered to date – put the country and its healthcare sector in the global spotlight. The UAE is the first Arab nation to manufacture a Covid-19 vaccine. Hayat-Vax is a result of a joint collaboration between Sinopharm and Abu Dhabi-based healthtech company, G42 Healthcare.
These initiatives – lauded around the world – were underpinned by the objectives of the UAE Vision 2021 National Agenda: to achieve a worldclass healthcare system that serves the needs of citizens and residents. The UAE is well on its way to achieving this goal; with the public and private sectors working in tandem to fast track it. The UAE’s new Centennial 2071 plan, to position it as the best country in the world by 2071, will also power the country’s healthcare ambitions.
Dr Shamsheer Vayalil, chairman and MD, VPS Healthcare, says, “One of the key drivers of transformation to be the best country in the world, is the absolute criticality of having a healthy population with access to the highest standards of healthcare in the world. We all have witnessed how the pandemic placed healthcare at the forefront of human existence.”
The UAE’s rapid infrastructural development, strong regulatory framework to protect patients, growing focus on preventive care, advancements in patient care delivery, privatisation and digital transformation will play a key role in this process, as will increased spending from the public and private sector. The UAE government has allocated Dhs4.9bn (8.4 per cent of the total budget) to healthcare and community protection in the federal budget for 2022-2026.
Abbas Berdi, director, Deals Strategy, Healthcare & Pharmaceutical at PwC Middle East, says, “Investments in innovation, research, science and technology are key to the UAE’s strategic shift towards knowledge-based economic development. The country’s healthcare sector is a prime example of this. Owing to strategic investment from entities such as ADQ, Mubadala, Abu Dhabi’s Department of Health (DoH), MoHAP and the Dubai Health Authority (DHA) among many others, the UAE has in place the necessary infrastructure on which to develop a tech-enabled healthcare ecosystem across the region.
“With all parties in the ecosystem working together – from regulators, payers, providers, academia and investors – we can ensure we deliver quality healthcare to more people at a lower cost, and most importantly, improve patients’ lives.”
24.7m+ COVID-19 VACCINE DOSES ADMINISTERED TO DATE IN THE UAE
THE UAE IS THE FIRST ARAB NATION TO MANUFACTURE A COVID-19 VACCINE