Latest news with #DepartmentofHealthAbuDhabi
The National
24-04-2025
- Health
- The National
Digital health and AI empower patients and physicians toward longevity
Artificial intelligence and digital health are playing transformative roles in the way health care is delivered in Abu Dhabi while improving patient care. And as the UAE capital puts itself front and centre of this digital age revolution, Abu Dhabi Global Health Week has again placed that progress in the spotlight. On the sidelines of the second health week, Ibrahim Al Jallaf, executive director of digital health at the Department of Health Abu Dhabi, revealed how Abu Dhabi's embracing of and taking forward the potential impact of AI and digital health was already bringing results. He defined digital health as the application of digital analytics and AI into the healthcare space and said it should complement and build 'on top of the existing system'. While AI is potentially impacting almost every aspect of human life, Mr Al Jallaf said that within the healthcare segment is where the effects could perhaps be felt most potently. 'AI has been there for quite a few years. However, more recently it's spiked in terms of prevalence and use, and that's the real game changer,' he told The National. 'The question that we're being asked quite a bit is how can AI positively impact healthcare. And the biggest benefit we're seeing is on enabling the shift from healthcare to health; how do we improve the healthy average life expectancy of the population?' 'Now, with artificial intelligence, we're starting to see a lot of solutions drive towards that, which is very impactful.' Mr Al Jallaf explained that everything done in digital health anchors on pillars such as whether it will drive a healthy population and improve healthy average life expectancy, improve accessibility or quality of care, and drive a resilient, innovative healthcare system that can handle future shocks, such as Covid, alongside long-term healthcare system sustainability. 'We look globally for advancements, and over the past few years, AI has become a lot more relevant,' he said. 'So where we find success cases and potential for innovation, we bring them to the UAE, and we grow some of them out of the UAE to then drive a healthier population.' Some innovations are experienced daily, while the impact of medical advances may be seen in the long term with better life quality and expectancy. 'The advantage of digital products and artificial intelligence, typically, is in scaling,' Mr Al Jallaf said. 'The opportunity to scale to millions, population-wide, and have scaled impact is where digital products and AI really kicks into gear and becomes extremely powerful. Our priority is the population, and the way to benefit the entire population is through these channels.' He gives the Sahatna app - 'our gateway to health' - as an example, as every Abu Dhabi individual has access. During Abu Dhabi Global Health Week, the DoH revealed Sahatna AI. 'It's a large language model with medical guardrails, fine-tuned for medical responses. It's all in-country, dealt with at the highest levels of patient privacy…connected to Malaffi, your health information exchange, and you can ask anything.' A user can, for example, check what medication they have been prescribed and why, simplifying the process of understanding. 'One of the things in Sahatna we're very passionate about is building out a significant wellness module, with the objective of improving the healthy average life expectancy,' Mr Al Jallaf continued. 'The focus is on the next best action for you as an individual to extend your lifespan. This really becomes your tailored health guide. And we don't just leave it at the patient level. We want to complement the ecosystem.' 'It's brilliant that the population is able to see this - giving a bit more control and oversight over their health care is important.' He explained that Malaffi is connected to all hospitals and clinics, so they all have 360-degree patient health records. 'They can ensure that they take the best care of you…that's incredible impact in action. Now, your physician and you both have the same 360-degree record, giving the patient more control, but also empowering the physician. This connected ecosystem has enabled us to do so much more.' This also better optimises the use of time and resources and can give a patient answers about a health issue without necessarily leaving home for a clinic waiting room, thereby improving care accessibility. 'How do you optimise population and patient experience? This is what we're seeing. And the benefits only increase from here,' said Mr Al Jallaf, expanding on how AI and digital fit in. 'It's a lot of AI-assisted care. We've rolled out numerous AI use cases and digital products to physicians. ' 'We have the patient risk profile, over 14 AI risk models. Each covers the probability of an individual getting a condition, such as diabetes or breast cancer, all based on their entire medical health record. 'In the AI models, there is explainability; if the physician clicks on it, they can see the different visits and lab test results this patient went through and they can then incorporate that into their care plans. 'This is live across 100 per cent of hospitals and clinics in Abu Dhabi, with over 70 per cent of physicians as active users. This is impact…and we're seeing a lot of success cases.' Some of the consequences of earlier work in the digital space are also being felt. Mr Al Jallaf said it will become more 'exponentially evident' but that health officials were already seeing positive changes in population health metrics and quality of care. 'Now the question is, how much further? The Department of Health will always strive to push the bar; the reality is, this is people's health care…the bar is always higher. There is no 'good enough' healthy average life expectancy, no 'good enough' quality of care, so we consistently strive to push the bar.' 'The obsession we have is, how do you drive the right impact? This is where we search the world for impact cases, because we're obsessed with success. 'We want to make sure all the initiatives and projects we do drive an increase in healthy average life expectancy, an increase in best class care, so we have conversations based on what's been successful and what we could do successfully. Which set of projects can we do to drive the highest impact?' Hosting an event such as Abu Dhabi Global Health Week enables collaboration and information sharing to take the broader health agenda forward, said Mr Al Jallaf. 'We consider ourselves one of the globally leading governments in health tech. There are other global health leaders that inspire us, and we leverage opportunities such as Abu Dhabi Global Health Week to spark these conversations. 'The fact that we have some great examples of impact puts us on the table to spark even greater conversations, because they see inspirational stories come out of us, and they bring their own inspirational stories. 'So we're now having conversations that are incredibly impactful because some other global leaders are excited to have a conversation with us, which only sparks further innovation. 'We're constantly looking for the next best innovation to move the needle on.' Mr Al Jallaf said that Abu Dhabi Global Health Week also gave exposure to new apps, AI use cases, and concepts that can be related to the UAE. 'The global perspective from leading AI experts is that healthcare is one of the fundamental sectors that will experience a significant amount of benefit from AI,' he added. 'The level of conversation and the excitement I hear from different leaders in healthcare is very strong. When you tell a leading health expert that they can improve the lives of a million people, the inspiration and the excitement are unlimited.' This page was produced by The National in partnership with Abu Dhabi Global Health Week.
Zawya
16-04-2025
- Health
- Zawya
Department of Health – Abu Dhabi and Oliver Wyman Unveil Report on Groundbreaking Potential of Genomics at Abu Dhabi Global Health Week
Abu Dhabi, UAE - The Department of Health Abu Dhabi (DoH), the regulator of the healthcare sector in the Emirate, in collaboration with Oliver Wyman, a global management consulting firm and a business of Marsh McLennan (NYS: MMC), today released a comprehensive report titled 'Genomics For Longevity' at Abu Dhabi Global Health Week (ADGHW). The report explores the transformative potential of genomics in enhancing clinical outcomes, driving economic growth, and supporting Abu Dhabi's strategic vision for precision medicine. The report unveiled under the theme 'Towards longevity: Redefined health and wellbeing,' highlights Abu Dhabi's role a pioneer in precision medicine and longevity focused healthcare. The 'Genomics For Longevity' report outlines a detailed framework and phased roadmap for integrating genomics across Abu Dhabi's healthcare systems. It emphasises the potential of genomics to revolutionise health by providing personalised treatment plans that cater to individual genetic profiles. The framework is centred on three strategic pillars: enabling technology, policy and governance and talent development, each designed to build a resilient and scalable genomics ecosystem. Dr. Asma Ibrahim Al Mannaei, Executive Director of the Health Life Science Sector at DoH, commented: 'In a fast-evolving field like genomics, agility and foresight are essential to ensure policies strike a balance between safety, innovation, and the constant flow of emerging evidence. This report is not just a roadmap, it is a call to action for policymakers, investors and health system leaders to shape a new era of personalized care. By establishing a structured ecosystem, we can unlock breakthroughs in not just longer, but healthier lives, and improve population-wide outcomes.' Sumit Sharma, Partner and Head of Health and Life Sciences for India, Middle East & Africa at Oliver Wyman added: 'Abu Dhabi's commitment to integrating genomics into its healthcare system marks a transformative step towards precision medicine. This not only positions Abu Dhabi as a leader in longevity and data-driven medical care but also promises significant economic growth and societal benefits. Our report provides a comprehensive roadmap for achieving these ambitious goals, ensuring that Abu Dhabi remains at the forefront of global health innovation.' Dr. Nicole Sirotin, CEO of The Institute for Healthier Living Abu Dhabi (IHLAD) - the world's first licensed health longevity medicine centre and a contributor to the report said: 'These findings underscore Abu Dhabi's commitment to integrating genomics with lifestyle precision to extend healthspan and reduce disease burden. In a region where early onset of diabetes and cancer is prevalent, personalised prevention through genomics can be transformative. The fusion of cutting-edge research and rigorous clinical practice exemplifies Abu Dhabi's leading approach to precision, preventive healthcare.' The 'Genomics For Longevity' report further emphasis that by mapping genetic and epigenetic risk factors and intervening with precision therapies, chronic illnesses such as diabetes and cardiovascular disorders could be reduced by 20–30% on a population level. These efforts are underpinned by Abu Dhabi's robust digital infrastructure, tech-savvy population, and the Emirate's strategic prioritization of public health. Additionally, the Emirate Genome Program, already one of the largest population sequencing efforts in the region with 800,000 genomes sequenced, lays a strong foundation for this transformation. The launch of the report at ADGHW reinforces Abu Dhabi's commitment to shaping the future of global health through science, innovation, and collaboration. As health systems around the world transition toward personalised, proactive, and predictive care, Abu Dhabi is positioning itself at the forefront of this shift, building a model for longevity that is scalable, sustainable, and inclusive. About the Department of Health – Abu Dhabi (DoH): The Department of Health – Abu Dhabi is the regulative body of the healthcare sector in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi. Committed to ensuring excellence in healthcare, DoH monitors the health status of the population while shaping the regulatory framework for the health system. This includes inspecting against regulations, enforcing standards and encouraging the adoption of world-class best practices and performance targets by all healthcare providers in the Emirate. Abu Dhabi remains dedicated to shaping the future of healthcare by establishing an intelligent and sustainable ecosystem that prioritises health, longevity and quality of life for all community members. Leveraging state-of-the-art infrastructure and cutting-edge capabilities, DoH continues to develop and implement initiatives and programmes in line with its strategic focus areas, Healthy Population, Best-in-Class Care and Resilience and Innovation. These efforts reflect DoH's unwavering commitment to predicting, preventing and personalising healthcare for every individual. About Oliver Wyman Oliver Wyman, a business of Marsh McLennan (NYSE: MMC), is a management consulting firm combining deep industry knowledge with specialized expertise to help clients optimize their business, improve operations and accelerate performance. Marsh McLennan is a global leader in risk, strategy and people, advising clients in 130 countries across four businesses: Marsh, Guy Carpenter, Mercer and Oliver Wyman. With annual revenue of over $24 billion and more than 90,000 colleagues, Marsh McLennan helps build the confidence to thrive through the power of perspective. About The Institute for Healthier Living Abu Dhabi (IHLAD) The Institute for Healthier Living Abu Dhabi (IHLAD) is dedicated to advancing longevity science and personalized healthcare. Through high-level collaboration with global experts, policymakers, and healthcare leaders, IHLAD aims to foster innovation and research in healthy longevity. The institute is committed to developing evidence-based diagnostics and therapeutics to enhance the quality of life for residents in Abu Dhabi and beyond. IHLAD's initiatives align with the broader goals of the UAE's healthcare sector, focusing on proactive, prevention-focused models of care to support lifelong wellness and healthier lifestyles
The National
08-02-2025
- Health
- The National
Dozens of Palestinians sent to UAE's floating hospital since start of ceasefire
Live updates: Follow the latest news on Israel-Gaza The UAE's floating hospital in Al Arish has admitted about 30 patients from Gaza since the start of the ceasefire. As part of Operation Gallant Knight 3, the medical centre located at the Egyptian border receives patients through the Rafah crossing. Mohammed Rashid Al Kaabi, the medical director of the UAE floating hospital, said that the hospital has provided medical services to 7,534 patients since the launch of its services for Palestinian people, state news agency Wam reported. It has also performed 2,561 surgical procedures across specialties, provided physical therapy services to approximately 2,850 cases, and fitted 21 prosthetic limbs for patients. Dr Al Kaabi told Wam that the UAE floating hospital will continue to provide its medical services to Palestinian patients in accordance with the highest medical and humanitarian standards. The 100-bed floating hospital set sail from the UAE in February 2024, and docked in Al Arish port in Egypt. The repurposed vessel is part of the UAE's continuing humanitarian campaign - ordered by President Sheikh Mohamed which aims to provide a lifeline to the people of Gaza. The hospital was established jointly between the UAE's Ministry of Defence, the Department of Health Abu Dhabi, and the Abu Dhabi Ports Authority group, and includes about 100 medical and administrative staff specialising in anaesthesia, general surgery, orthopaedics, and emergency services. Doctors from both the UAE and Egypt are part of the team that run the hospital. The UAE has sent dozens of aid flights carrying thousands of tonnes of supplies to support Gazans. The country has topped the list of donor countries, contributing 42 per cent of the total aid sent to Gaza since Israel's war on the enclave began. According to the German Press Agency, the value of the UAE's contributions is estimated at $828 million. The UAE was one of the first to respond to the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, with Sheikh Mohamed initiating Gallant Knight to deliver aid by land, air, and sea. Since the start of the operation, the UAE field hospital in Gaza has provided treatment to more than 50,000 patients. The UAE has also established two other hospitals, one of which includes a centre dedicated to providing prosthetic limbs for Palestinians injured in the war.
