Health Leaders at Arab Health 2025 Highlight UAE's Progress in Women's Healthcare, Call for Continued Collaboration

Mid East Info

28-01-2025

Experts share insights and experiences, emphasizing the importance of global and regional partnerships for advancing women's health during closed-door panel hosted by Mass General Brigham.
Dubai-UAE:January 2025 – Global healthcare leaders and national policymakers on Tuesday convened at the 50th edition of the Arab Health Exhibition, held at the Dubai World Trade Center, to discuss systemic challenges women continue to face in healthcare and the strides being made to close these gaps. The thought-provoking panel titled, 'Advancing Healthcare for Women in the Middle East and North Africa,' was hosted by Mass General Brigham, a world-class academic healthcare system.
Esteemed panelists included Her Excellency Dr. Maryam Matar, Founder and Chairperson of the UAE Genetic Diseases Association (UAEGDA), Dr. Nawal Nour, Chair of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Mass General Brigham, Farouk Shamas Jiwa, Director of Government Relations and Communications, META at Organon, and Dr. Kalthoom Alblooshi, Director of the Training and Development Center and Chief Innovation Officer at Emirates Health Services.
In 2025, the UAE dedicated AED 5.745 billion (8% of the federal budget) to healthcare and community prevention initiatives[1] and extended mandatory health insurance for private sector workers and domestic employees, set to come into effect this year. This follows the Cabinet's adoption of the National Policy for Improving Women's Health in 2024, ensuring women's access to comprehensive, top-tier healthcare. This progress provided a powerful backdrop for the convening, highlighting opportunities for collaboration and innovation in the region. Participants shed light on the critical healthcare disparities faced by women and celebrated the ongoing efforts to create more equitable and inclusive healthcare systems across the MENA.
Her Excellency Dr. Maryam Matar opened the conversation by sharing her views on the UAE's forward-thinking policies in bringing women's health to the forefront of national development and priorities, 'The progress we are seeing in the UAE is a direct result of our leadership's' focus on gender-sensitive reforms. As we continue to break barriers, the emphasis must remain on making women's healthcare universally accessible, high-quality, and tailored to their distinct needs.'
Bringing to the forum a global perspective, Dr. Nawal Nour addressed the need for more gender-specific healthcare research and a shift in the way women's health is perceived: 'It's essential that we acknowledge and address the health needs unique to women, as their health and well-being are integral to the strength of families, communities, and societies. The Middle East is not alone in this journey. Globally, it's up to all of us – policymakers, researchers, doctors, nurses, and the public, to improve women's health. To make a difference and improve the lives of women, everyone has a role to play – whether it's developing an initiative or contributing to innovative discovery. Now is the time to invest in the women's health.'
Farouk Shamas Jiwa pointed out, 'We urgently need greater investment in women's health – with only 1% of R&D currently addressing female-specific conditions outside oncology. Women often express different symptoms for the same diseases, highlighting the critical need for better representation in clinical trials. Companies such as Organon are committed to partner and collaborate to championing transformation in health outcomes for women across the region.'
Dr Kalthoom Alblooshi highlighted, 'Advancing women's health is not just about women – it benefits entire communities. Comprehensive care, including mental health support and education empower women to take charge of their health and improve quality of life for themselves and their communities. By addressing social stigmas that impede timely healthcare access for women, we can ensure holistic, accessible healthcare for all.'
The panel wrapped up with emphasis on a collaborative way forward, stressing the importance of joint efforts between governments, healthcare providers and systems, and the pharmaceutical industry to create systems that empower women to take charge of their health journeys. This future-focused dialogue is set to inform the region's efforts in adopting global best practices.
In this context, Mass General Brigham will continue to engage with attendees at Arab Health at its booth in Hall 7, reinforcing its seminal role in advancing women's healthcare. With its integrated, multi-specialty care and research-driven approach, Mass General Brigham is a trusted partner in the GCC's healthcare transformation, sharing expertise and experiences to support national visions and cultivating more inclusive, equitable healthcare systems that meet the needs of every woman.
About Mass General Brigham:
Headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts, USA, is an integrated academic healthcare system founded by Massachusetts General Hospital and Brigham and Women's Hospital. It connects the full spectrum of healthcare, from prestigious academic medical centers to local community hospitals and home care services. With five Harvard-affiliated teaching hospitals, Mass General Brigham physicians deliver research-infused subspecialized care to patients with complex medical needs from more than 120 countries. For over 25 years Mass General Brigham has also collaborated with organizations across 40 countries to help to raise local standards of care and improve the health of local communities. Whether addressing complex patient needs at Mass General Brigham hospitals or supporting in-country healthcare initiatives to achieve its healthcare vision, Mass General Brigham look forward to collaborating with partners around the globe.