AN APPLE A DAY
Given the high supply of general medical facilities, Abu Dhabi is moving toward specialized care to raise the bar of its healthcare system.
The government in Abu Dhabi has long been dedicated to providing both nationals and foreigners the highest quality healthcare available. The Emirate's strategic plan for the sector has seven key focus areas: reducing capacity gaps and minimizing the need for international care; improving the quality of local healthcare; attracting and retaining a local workforce; enhancing emergency preparedness; promoting wellness and preventing diseases; ensuring cost effectiveness and value for money; and building a comprehensive e-health system.
According to the most recent data by the UAE Open Data Portal, Abu Dhabi has approximately 52 hospitals, 15 of which are government run and 37 of which are private. Among those hospitals, Abu Dhabi has a total of 5,043 beds available, with 2,987 available in government hospitals and 2,056 available in private ones. The Emirate's healthcare regulator, Abu Dhabi Department of Health (DOH), recently announced Abu Dhabi will need an additional 2,100 hospital beds by 2025 in order to cater to the growing demand, by both locals and medical tourists.
The role the Emirate plays on a global scale in the field of healthcare is expanding rapidly. In July 2018, Khalifa University of Science and Technology announced its new medical school would be taking its first batch of students that September, helping Abu Dhabi develop itself as a hub for the field and training a new generation of Emirati doctors in the country. The curriculum will include heavy involvement with local hospitals starting in the first year, and graduates will have the opportunity for residency with a local hospital partnered with the university. The program will be modeled after the US system, in which medical school begins at the postgraduate level.
By strengthening its healthcare offerings, Abu Dhabi hopes to put itself on the map as a premier destination for medical tourism. In doing so, it will need to face the challenge of the high mobility of medical practitioners, to grow patients' confidence and willingness to book an appointment or surgery. As such, the DOH recently announced new measures for healthcare providers aimed at streamlining the way doctors and international patients access records. The new policy will create a portal that will maintain records of medical tourists' information, including diagnoses and clinical signs.
This follows a worldwide marketing campaign launched in early 2018 by the DOH, alongside the Department of Culture and Tourism, to turn the Emirate into a healthcare destination with internationally acclaimed facilities like the Cleveland Clinic and the Imperial College London Diabetes Center. The campaign revolves around highlighting the fields of excellence Abu Dhabi is known for, such as open-heart surgery and cancer treatment, the standards of which aren't available elsewhere in the region. The campaign also focuses on offering packages with discounts and attractions, not just for the patient themselves, but his or her entire family.
Abu Dhabi is known for adopting the latest technology and implementing it prudently in all sectors, and healthcare is no different. TBY recently met with Dr. Gowri Sankar Bapanapalli, CEO and internist at Al Raha Hospital, who explained how important of a role new technology will play in the field in Abu Dhabi. “There is a need to understand how technological gadgets can help us learn more about the patient, even before the symptoms arrive," Bapanapalli said. “There is a lot of technological expansion in the UAE, and the government is keen on creating an electronic environment. The UAE is advancing in using AI to manage hospitals. We receive patients' information and evaluate their individual risk stratification of a particular disease. If they are at risk, we educate them with preventive measures before the actual disease starts."
In June 2018, the DOH signed an MoU with NYU Abu Dhabi for the university's UAE Healthy Future study. The program is a long-term program launched in 2017 by NYUAD's Public Health Research Center and is intended to provide insights on some of the most common diseases among UAE nationals, such as heart disease, diabetes, and obesity. The study will examine approximately 20,000 Emiratis between the ages of 18 and 40. The program has already signed up more than 5,000 subjects.
Overall, the health market in the UAE has witnessed a hefty amount in investments aimed at filling the capacity gaps and portraying the Emirate as a medical tourism hub. However, industry leaders have revealed that the market is perhaps facing excessively tight margins to ensure competitiveness. Two main reasons came out when asked about this condition: an overcrowded market with players providing similar type of services, and the public sector engaging in a sort of competition with private players, both in terms of salary offerings and insurance deductibles, despite not always offering a profitable business model. With the right investments aimed at placing the patient at the center of the system, Abu Dhabi's rise as a medical tourism hub will know no boundaries.
AN APPLE A DAY
TABLE OF CONTENTS
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Juan Carlos Varela, President, Republic of Panama
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Rashed A. Al Blooshi, Chief Executive, Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange (ADX)
TBY talks to Rashed A. Al Blooshi, Chief Executive of Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange (ADX), on highlighting the opportunities available to companies on ADX, adopting best practices in the field, and further developing the market.
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hmed Omar Abdulla, CEO, Abu Dhabi Polymer Company Ltd (Borouge),
TBY talks to Ahmed Omar Abdulla, CEO of Abu Dhabi Polymer Company Ltd (Borouge), on the impact of its new Borouge 4 plant, specialized solutions for global challenges, and the need to continue to invest in innovation.
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Philippe Peccard, President Middle East Engineering & Investment Projects, Linde Group
TBY talks to Philippe Peccard, President Middle East Engineering & Investment Projects of Linde Group, on being a key partner of its regional partners, developing the downstream value chain, and further enhancing operations with technology.
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Ali Vezvaei, Executive President & CEO, Bilfinger Middle East
TBY talks to Ali Vezvaei, Executive President & CEO of Bilfinger Middle East, on its keys areas of focus in the UAE, trends in the hydrocarbons sector, and the application of energy efficiency technologies to new sectors.
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Samia Bouazza, Managing Director , Multiply Marketing Consultancy
TBY talks to Samia Bouazza, Managing Director of Multiply Marketing Consultancy, on satisfying sophisticated consumers with high purchasing power, targeting different categories of the population, and thinking globally while acting locally.
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Yousuf Al Shaibani, Director General, Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre (MBRSC)
TBY talks to Yousuf Al Shaibani, Director General of the Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre (MBRSC), on the goals of the national space program, attracting youth to the program, and the significance of KhalifaSat.
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Abdulla Jassem bin Kalban, Managing Director & CEO , Emirates Global Aluminium (EGA)
TBY talks to Abdulla Jassem bin Kalban, Managing Director & CEO of Emirates Global Aluminium (EGA), on its expansion upstream, strategies to grow the sector, and sustainability initiatives.
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Sheikh Abdulla bin Mohammed Al Hamed, Chairman , Department of Health (DoH)
TBY talks to Sheikh Abdulla bin Mohammed Al Hamed, Chairman of the Department of Health (DoH), on facilitating investment for local and foreign investors and building and maintaining a sustainable workforce.
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Mohamed Khalifa Al Mubarak, Chairman , Department of Culture and Tourism (DCT)
TBY talks to Mohamed Khalifa Al Mubarak, Chairman of the Department of Culture and Tourism (DCT) Abu Dhabi, on the role of innovation, the late Sheikh Zayed's cultural vision, and strengthening cultural engagement among youth.
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Saif Saeed Ghobash, Undersecretary , Department of Culture and Tourism (DCT)
TBY talks to Saif Saeed Ghobash, Undersecretary of the Department of Culture and Tourism (DCT) Abu Dhabi, on becoming a beacon of cultural tourism, tailoring its approach to different markets, and penetrating the MICE segment.
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Humaid Matar Al Dhaheri, Group CEO , Abu Dhabi National Exhibitions Company (ADNEC),
TBY talks to Humaid Matar Al Dhaheri, Group CEO of Abu Dhabi National Exhibitions Company (ADNEC), on fast-tracking Abu Dhabi's economic diversification, the importance of the Year of Zayed, and technology's impact on the world of event planning.
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Dr. Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, UAE Minister , Climate Change and Environment
TBY talks to Dr. Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, UAE Minister of Climate Change and Environment, on the UAE's commitment to reducing its ecological footprint, transitioning to a climate-resilient green economy, and the importance of sustainable green finance.
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Neri Askland, Vice President , Middle East and UAE Country Manager of Statoil
TBY talks to Neri Askland, Vice President of Middle East and UAE Country Manager of Statoil, on its efforts to help reduce its carbon footprint, opportunities for R&D in the area, and its collaboration with Masdar.
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Christer Viktorsson, Director General , Federal Authority for Nuclear Regulation (FANR)
TBY talks to Christer Viktorsson, Director General of Federal Authority for Nuclear Regulation (FANR), on the role of the institution in advancing the nuclear energy regulatory environment, the Barakah Power Plant, and the importance of an integrated network.
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Eng. Omar Husain Al Hashmi, Acting Managing Director , Abu Dhabi Sewerage Services Company (ADSSC),
TBY talks to Eng. Omar Husain Al Hashmi, Acting Managing Director of Abu Dhabi Sewerage Services Company (ADSSC), on its successes with STEP, helping Abu Dhabi to reduce its carbon footprint, and its successful Emiratization policies.
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Saeed Al Bahri Salem Al Ameri, Director General , Abu Dhabi Food Control Authority (ADFCA)
TBY talks to Saeed Al Bahri Salem Al Ameri, Director General of Abu Dhabi Food Control Authority (ADFCA), on the Farmers Income Support Program, the UAE's agroecological climate, and introducing intelligent control systems.
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Falah Al Ahbabi, Chairman, Department of Urban Planning and Municipalities (DPM)
TBY talks to Falah Al Ahbabi, Chairman of Department of Urban Planning and Municipalities (DPM), on coordinating joint-investment programs and strategic alliances with the private sector and integrating technology within developments and services.
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Mohammed Ahmed Bin Abdulaziz Al-Shehhi, Undersecretary of Economic Affairs, the Ministry of Economy
Mohammed Ahmed Bin Abdulaziz Al-Shehhi, Undersecretary of Economic Affairs of the Ministry of Economy, on efforts to enhance the UAE's intellectual property framework, creating a knowledge-based economy, and fostering a culture of innovation.
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Khalifa Al Mubarak, Group Chief Executive Officer & Managing Director, Mubadala Investment Company
TBY talks to Khaldoon Khalifa Al Mubarak, Group Chief Executive Officer & Managing Director of Mubadala Investment Company, on the company's diversification strategy, its technology investments, and its focus on innovation.
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Rashed Lahej Al Mansoori, Chairman, Statistics Centre- Abu Dhabi (SCAD)
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Saeed Al Neyad, Director General, Abu Dhabi Monitoring and Control Centre (ADMCC)
TBY talks to Saeed Al Neyadi, Director General of Abu Dhabi Monitoring and Control Centre (ADMCC), on being a critical enabler for various key partner organizations, efforts to increase Abu Dhabi's competitiveness in tourism and commerce, and improving the quality of life for citizens and visitors.
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Nick Cochrane-Dyet, Chairman, British Business Group (BBG)
TBY talks to Nick Cochrane-Dyet, Chairman of British Business Group (BBG), on Abu Dhabi's forward-looking strategy, the need for British firms to continue to bring value to the Emirate, and areas of opportunity for the UK.
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