January 31, 2023 – Dubai
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| From L to R: Hind Al Zaabi, Executive Director of Healthcare Facilities at Department of Health – Abu Dhabi; H.E. Dr. Jamal Al Kaabi, Undersecretary of DOH Abu Dhabi; and Danny Sebright, President of U.S.-U.A.E. Business Council |
| The U.S.-U.A.E. Business Council hosted three roundtable discussions in Dubai on January 31st on the sidelines of Arab Health featuring speakers from the Department of Health – Abu Dhabi (DOH Abu Dhabi), Emirates Health Services (EHS), Mubadala Health, Abu Dhabi Health Services Company (SEHA), Sheikh Shakhbout Medical City (SSMC), Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, Stanford Medicine, and the Technology Innovation Institute (TII). H.E. Dr. Jamal Al Kaabi, Undersecretary of the DOH Abu Dhabi, outlined his priorities for 2023 including enabling the efficiency and integration of Abu Dhabi’s healthcare sector. He noted Abu Dhabi’s work to become a hub for research and digital health innovation, reviewed Abu Dhabi’s life sciences strategy, and shared the U.A.E.’s interest in further developing its pediatric capabilities and encouraging sustainable practices in Abu Dhabi’s healthcare sector.  Hind Al Zaabi (L), Executive Director of Healthcare Facilities at Department of Health – Abu Dhabi in conversation with Dayle Carden (R), Senior Advisor at the U.S.-U.A.E. Business Council Hind Al Zaabi, Executive Director of Healthcare Facilities at DOH Abu Dhabi, further emphasized the capital city’s aspirations to become a regional and worldwide leader in both specialty medical tourism and clinical trials. She also highlighted the importance of incorporating technology and tele-health strategies to support healthcare service provision, especially in the development of local mental health services. A lunchtime panel discussion about sustainability in the healthcare sector featured Dr. Naser Ammash, CEO of Sheikh Shakhbout Medical City (a Mayo Clinic partnership), Dr. Jorge Guzman, CEO of Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, David Entwistle, CEO of Stanford Health Care, and Eng. Maitha Khoori, Biomedical Engineer at Emirates Health Services (EHS). Speakers testified to the importance of increasing environmental sustainability in the global healthcare sector through initiatives such as utilizing renewable energy, reducing waste, enhancing efficiency in supply chains, and following international standards for green building construction. In addition, the speakers discussed the imperative to address workforce shortages and burnout among healthcare professionals, particularly following the stress of the COVID-19 pandemic, in order to ensure the ‘human’ sustainability of healthcare systems in the U.A.E. and globally.  From L to R: David Entwistle, CEO of Stanford Health Care; Dr. Jorge Guzman, CEO of Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi; Eng. Maitha Khoori, Biomedical Engineer, Emirates Health Services (EHS); Dr. Naser Ammash, CEO, Sheikh Shakhbout Medical City (SSMC); and Danny Sebright, President, U.S.-U.A.E. Business Council Dr. Jorge Guzman mentioned specific initiatives to enhance the environmental sustainability of Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, which won the International Hospital Federation’s Ashikaga-Nikken Excellence Award for Green Hospitals in November 2022. David Entwistle shared Stanford Health Care’s pledge to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions 50% by 2030, as part of a national initiative aimed at decarbonizing the healthcare sector led by U.S. President Joe Biden. Dr. Naser Ammash discussed SSMC’s focus on medical education, training, and research aimed at developing and supporting the U.A.E.’s next generation of healthcare professionals. Eng. Maitha Khoori explained EHS’s efforts to enhance the sustainability of its portfolio of healthcare service providers, which includes more than 130 facilities across six emirates. She also provided insight into partnership opportunities between EHS and U.S. healthcare companies, noting many such agreements have been signed at the Arab Health 2023 conference in Dubai. A third panel discussion explored the transformations in Abu Dhabi’s healthcare sector through technological innovation, research, and service integration. Dr. Mohammed AlSaati, Senior Advisor at Mubadala Health, discussed the merger of Mubadala Health and G42 Healthcare, and the growing role of technology and artificial intelligence in the U.A.E.’s healthcare sector. Dr. Noura Al Ghaithi, CEO of Ambulatory Healthcare Services (a SEHA facility) discussed efforts to consolidate the U.A.E.’s healthcare service providers, a move aimed at increasing the overall quality and efficient delivery of care across the country. Dr. Thomas Launey, Vice President for Molecular Biotechnology and Genomics at Technology Innovation Institute (TII), explained the biotechnology and healthcare research work of TII, an institution reinforcing Abu Dhabi’s status as a hub for research and development.  From L to R: Dr. Mohammed AlSaati, Senior Advisor, Mubadala Health; Dr. Noura Al Ghaithi, CEO, Ambulatory Healthcare Services; Dr. Thomas Launey, Vice President for Molecular Biotechnology and Genomics, Technology Innovation Institute (TII); and Danny Sebright, President, U.S.-U.A.E. Business Council For more information about the U.A.E.’s healthcare sector, please click here to read a report published in January 2023 by the Business Council. For questions about this event or the Business Council’s activities in the healthcare sector, please contact Alyssa Kristeller at akristeller@usuaebusiness.org. |
