Representatives from the U.A.E. Ministry of Health and Prevention, Dubai Health Authority, Abu Dhabi Health Services Company (SEHA), U.A.E. Ministry of Defense, and U.A.E. Embassy in Washington, D.C. spoke of the future of healthcare cooperation between the U.S. and U.A.E. during a U.S.-U.A.E. Business Council webinar on 17 June 2021. This event was held under the auspices of the U.S.-U.A.E. Business Council’s Health Care Task Force and precedes the in-person component of Arab Health 2021, which begins this Sunday June 20th in Dubai. A link to the webinar can be found here. 

Panelists applauded the U.A.E.’s strong and decisive response to the COVID-19 pandemic with widespread testing and other public health measures allow​ing citizens ​and residents to be at ease and ​enabling public health officials to ​reduce mortality rates  and avert a vast medical breakdown. They also noted that U.S. partnerships with the U.A.E. are longstanding, and they were very helpful in combatting the pandemic. Moreover, they highlighted the U.A.E.’s efforts to help distribute vaccines around the world, emphasizing that “none of us are safe until we are all safe.”

Additionally, the representatives discussed the future of international patient care and tele-health​.  ​They remarked that the pandemic has accelerated the adoption of telehealth and in-country care. ​However, they noted that American hospitals remain the #1 choice for Emirati patients ​and physicians given “well-established systems, well-known outcomes, and high patient satisfaction.” They expect an increase in the “rhythm” of international patients heading to the U.S. in the coming months.They also discussed areas for ​expanding educational and research collaboration ​in the healthcare sector through post-graduate training, increased biomedical research, ​visiting consultant programs, ​clinical trials, and specialized service clinics on the ground in the U.A.E. 

Lastly, speakers​ expounded on important trends and key events in the U.A.E. healthcare sector. With the U.A.E. looking to increase domestic production of health products, there is a real appetite for pharmaceutical companies to help improve the U.A.E.’s homegrown capabilities. The panel also noted that Arab Health 2021 will be an opportunity to showcase the U.A.E.’s vision for healthcare for the future. Furthermore, Expo 2020 has an entire week dedicated to health and wellness, which will provide an international forum for cooperation in the health vertical. 

For more information about the Business Council’s Health Care Task Force and work in the healthcare sector,  please contact Mr. Ameer Alsamman at aalsamman@usuaebusiness.org.

For more information about the Business Council’s slate of upcoming events, please contact the U.S.-U.A.E. Business Council’s head of communications, Ms. Mary Zuccarello at mzuccarello@usuaebusiness.org or visit our website at www.usuaebusiness.org.