In an era marked by rapid technological advancements, global interconnectedness and rising challenges posed by climate change and its impact on future generations, the outlook for healthcare is undergoing a paradigm shift. The link between climate change and its impact on healthcare is undeniable and we must integrate sustainability with innovation into core healthcare operations. It is also very important for the global healthcare systems to be ready not only to support the evolving needs of people but also to manage black swan events like the COVID-19 pandemic.

Sustainable healthcare systems are a key requirement to reduce carbon footprint on the planet and to build capacity for emergency preparedness created by climate-related disasters. Healthcare systems around the world need to become energy efficient, transition to renewable energy and ensure effective waste management. For this, stronger collaboration is needed between governments, policymakers, pharmaceutical and technology companies, and care providers, to together overcome the challenges that climate change presents. As the recently concluded COP 28 in the UAE proved, there is enough evidence now to correlate climate change with harm to human health. As such it is imperative to build resilient healthcare systems capable of overcoming challenges and supporting sustainable measures.

At Aster, we stand committed to a transformative journey integrating sustainable practices into our operations across India and GCC which is now resulting in efficient use of renewable energy sources. Notably, the incorporation of 3,679,200 KWh of solar energy, 2,300,000 KWh of wind energy, and 3,569,298 KWh of hydro energy within the company resulted in a remarkable 6,824 tCO2e reduction in net greenhouse gas emissions. Such initiatives not only contribute to environmental well-being but also reflect a commitment to public health.

Related: Healthcare's pioneering role in global sustainability efforts

Innovation in healthcare

Healthcare innovation is key for the future of healthcare. The impact of Artificial intelligence is creating ripples in the field. Many of the diagnostic tests and radiological studies like MRI and CT scans are now being read by machines instead of people. Doctors are provided with able decision-making support systems which help in better diagnosis. Genomic studies have helped in the diagnosis and treatment of many of the diseases. Proactive rather than reactive medical practices are gaining centrestage. Personalised instead of generalised treatment modalities are now gaining momentum.

Focusing on patient-centricity

The cornerstone of the future healthcare paradigm is patient-centricity. The industry is witnessing a shift towards personalised treatment plans, incorporating patient feedback into service development, and empowering individuals in their healthcare journey. The focus has evolved from a one-size-fits-all approach to a holistic model that ensures the well-being of both patients and the planet. Thus, the need for specialist care grows simultaneously, enabled by the integration of technology into the healthcare ecosystem. Patient-provider collaboration is key to staying connected with the needs and introducing solutions which people need. Integrated healthcare offering which combines primary to quaternary care supported by a seamless experience would be essential for providers to stay ahead of the curve.

As we consolidate our footprint in the GCC across physical and digital channels, we are creating and providing essential health services, preventive care and health education, aligning with the growing focus on holistic well-being.

Related: Connecting world health organisations, systems and patients

GCC – a region ripe with opportunities

In UAE, the country’s share of population above the age of 65 is forecasted to increase to 4.4 per cent by 2030, up from 1.1 per cent at present, according to the World Bank. This is expected to stimulate increased demand for quaternary care and facilities providing advanced healthcare with experts, including geriatric care. The influx of population, changing dynamics and UAE government’s focus on building the country as the hub for world-class medical tourism will bring in investments from private sector and open opportunities for digital tech solution providers, innovators, and experienced medical professionals.

Similarly, immense opportunities lay ahead for countries like Saudi Arabia, Oman and Qatar as the region gears up to meet rising healthcare demands locally, without patients having to travel aboard to seek advanced care. KSA is expected to see a massive growth and change in the healthcare sector, with the government focused on improving healthcare infrastructure as a part of its Vision 2030. There is huge potential for primary care operators to expand their network of standardised care and meet public demand. At Aster, with our commitment to expand our pharmacy network in the country, alongside adding capacity to serve more patients at Aster Sanad Hospital in Riyadh, we are looking forward to bringing our legacy of 36 years of clinical expertise and quality experience to serve the people of the Kingdom.

Reference available on request.

Dr. Azad Moopen is the Founder & Chairman, Aster DM Healthcare.

With the 28th edition of the Conference of the Parties (COP28) held recently, the eyes of the world are currently trained on global climate action and resilience. The United Nation’s annual climate summit has this year dedicated an entire day to health, throwing into sharp focus any clinical efforts within the healthcare sector to minimise environmental footprint.

Precision medicine is one of these key approaches that is being hailed as an enabler of sustainability. With the potential to tailor care toward the best patient outcomes, data-based precision medicine can also effectively minimise resource utilisation and reduce waste.

As an early advocate of personalised medicine, Dr. Wesam Ahmed, Department Chair for Hematology, Medical Oncology & Bone Marrow Transplant in the Oncology Institute at Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, shed light on its benefits and need amid climate change at COP28, “Climate change and global warming affect our bodies and our internal makeup. For example, increasing exposure to the sun and air pollution can cause cancer. Genetic testing has the potential to help us understand these changes and enable preventive measures, including early lifestyle changes.”

There are two main types of genetic testing: germline testing looks for inherited mutations that can predispose an individual to certain diseases, whereas somatic testing investigates for acquired mutations in a confined set of diseased cells or tissue to determine what medicines can be best used to target them. Somatic testing is often known as tumor analysis or tumor sequencing.

Under the aegis of the Department of Health – Abu Dhabi (DoH), the health sector regulator for the emirate, Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi has been offering a world-class Personalized Precision Medicine Program for cancer patients since 2022 which is also supported by other key innovators such as Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence and G42 Healthcare. The initiative, which is the first of its kind in the region, leverages proactive population-wide genetic testing and cutting-edge artificial intelligence-based technologies for innovative tumor analysis, and works toward the development of personalised treatment plans.

Related: Healthcare's pioneering role in global sustainability efforts

“This kind of genetic testing shifts us away from a one-size-fits-all model for cancer care, allowing us to dispense the most effective treatments for each patient while reducing treatment toxicity and even enabling the early diagnosis of cancer risk. In terms of sustainability, this targeted approach helps us minimise resource utilisation and waste, especially through the use of pioneering alternative screening methods like blood tests and helps cut back on the environmental footprint of medical care,” Dr. Ahmed explained.

The programme, which uses genome sequencing data collected as part of the Emirati Genome Project (EGP), also aims to drive a broader understanding of the environmental impact on cancer and contribute to the well-being of cancer patients across the globe. In its initial stages, it is being used to tackle breast cancer – the most common cancer in the UAE – by enabling the development of tailored prevention plans for high-risk patients, as well as customised treatment strategies for individuals diagnosed with this form of cancer.

Dr. Ahmed explained the added role of precision medicine in tracing cancer cell mutations, “Cancer cells are constantly evolving, and the process can even be triggered by climate-related environmental changes. This means that drugs in use at present may not be effective against new mutations, so somatic testing is the key to tracing these genetic alterations and ensuring effective interventions that have minimal impact on our planet. Additionally, extending the scope of pharmacogenomics beyond cancer and broadening the understanding of environmental impacts will ensure more comprehensive personalised care.”

Related: Sustainability and agility key to navigating climate change risks

Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi further acts as a collection centre for the EGP, which is working to refine the Emirati reference genome through inputs from one million collected samples. EGP is led by M42, a tech-based health organisation that includes Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi in its network. The project seeks to offer personalised medical treatment, advance the local and international understanding of genomics and health, and support disease prevention strategies for Emiratis.

Dr. Ahmed explained that the benefits of widespread implementation of precision medicine are two-fold, “Not only will the greater use of targeted therapies help protect the environment, but it will also enhance sustainability by driving down costs for targeted therapies, making them more accessible. This is good news for all patients, who can hope to receive effective care at a sustainable cost.”

Given its instrumental role in weaving sustainability into healthcare, precision medicine is billed as the way forward, presenting significant upsides for both people and the planet. In line with its unwavering drive toward patient-centric care and sustainability, Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi will continue to tap into the power of advanced technologies beyond COP28 to enhance health outcomes and safeguard the future of the world for generations to come.

Back to Management

Oncologists categorise cancers as solid tumours or blood cancers. Solid tumour cancers are cancers of any of the other body organs or tissues. Blood cancer, known as haematologic cancers, are cancer of the blood cells, and it is a fatal disease that is almost asymptomatic or has nonspecific symptoms, which means that it can indicate various diseases. Its less visible symptoms highlight the importance of regular medical checkups to ensure that any symptoms are identified early and appropriately, and action is taken early. They are also more common in children or the elderly, and surgery is not an option as the disease affects the blood. And, while no two blood cancers are alike – whether leukemia, lymphoma, or myeloma - treatments vary greatly.[1]

In the Middle East and Africa region, it accounts for approximately 8 per cent of all new cancer cases. In 2020 the number of new cases among women in the Middle East was more than 8.5 thousand[2]. This rate is higher in males: 10.4 thousand new cases of blood cancer were registered in 2020[3]. This can be a truly deadly disease: for example, in Morocco, the five-year survival rate for leukemia is only 25 per cent.

With such a significant impact on public health, it is important to understand its main signs. These include profuse night sweats, fever, bleeding gums, fatigue and weakness, decreased appetite, bruising and prolonged bleeding even after minor injuries, nausea, and vomiting. All these symptoms are nonspecific, yet each of them is a signal to consult your healthcare provider and undergo all the appointed medical examinations. Blood cancer can also make you weaker and more vulnerable to other dangerous diseases as these cancerous cells can interfere with the work of healthy cells. It inhibits the healthy cells’ ability to perform their main tasks, such as fighting infections and aiding in the body's repair processes[4].

The needs of patients with blood cancers are unique. That said, there are many ways to win the fight against blood cancer if we all act together. With collective action from everyone, we can pave the way for a bright future for blood cancer patients.

Related: Revolutionising cancer diagnostics: Innovations in testing

Early action against blood cancer can significantly increase survivability

Blood cancer symptoms can be mistaken for signs of other diseases, which is why it is important to be transparent and communicative with your doctor in case you detect early signs. This is emphasised by the fact that blood cancer is often diagnosed at its advanced stages, highlighting the importance of taking timely action.

Research consistently underscores the pivotal role that early intervention plays in shaping positive outcomes for patients living with blood cancer.[5] The intricate nature of blood cancers demands a nuanced and swift response from both medical professionals and the individuals at risk. Early diagnosis not only facilitates the implementation of targeted and effective treatment strategies but also opens the door to a broader array of therapeutic options. Timely diagnosis enables medical teams to tailor treatment plans to the specific characteristics of the cancer, optimizing the chances of success. It provides hope and increases survivability, allowing patients to confront the disease and foster a proactive mindset.

To detect blood cancer early, people at high risk such as those with a family history of blood cancer or certain genetic mutations, should undergo routine screenings and assessments. Timely and appropriate diagnostic testing, such as blood tests, bone marrow biopsy, and imaging studies, should be performed if blood cancer is suspected. Likewise, healthcare providers can stay updated with the latest evidence-based guidelines and recommendations for early detection of blood cancer and maintain a high level of suspicion in at-risk patients, ensuring prompt diagnosis and early intervention.

Related: ‘Lung cancer never rests, neither should we’, Pfizer expert

Everyone has a part to do to act against blood cancer and improve patient outcomes

Early detection is a key step in the hopeful battle against blood cancer, but there are numerous other ways everyone can contribute to the fight. Whether you are a patient, a doctor, or simply a compassionate person, your voice plays a vital role in enhancing cancer treatment and positively impacting the lives of those facing this challenge.

The journey of blood cancer patients is marked not only by medical procedures but also by an emotional and mental landscape that requires our support, empathy, and kindness. Studies indicate that emotional and mental support contributes to reduced depression and anxiety in cancer patients, fostering improved psychological well-being and health throughout their journey[6]. Simple acts of kindness, such as offering to drive them to appointments or preparing a meal, wield significant power in making a positive impact on their lives.

Likewise, the health industry also has a responsibility to innovate treatments that answer to patient challenges. At Pfizer, we use our long-standing experience in the treatment of blood cancers. Our in-depth understanding of the science behind blood cancers and the leadership we have developed across our existing blood cancer medicines positions us for success as we strive to bring breakthroughs for patients with multiple myeloma. As a scientific community, we are on the precipice of a new era for people living with blood cancers. As we continue to deepen our understanding of the science behind blood cancers, we will continue to innovate to develop effective treatments for people living with these diseases.

Each proactive step plays a crucial role in shaping a future where this disease is met with resilience and hope. By acting collectively, we can not only improve the lives of those currently facing this challenge but also contribute to a future where the impact of blood cancer is minimized, and the journey towards healing is marked by strength, solidarity, and triumph.

Hatem El-Kadi, Pfizer Middle East, Russia, and Africa Regional Oncology Lead.

 

Cancer testing and diagnostics are evolving at an unprecedented pace, ushering in a new era of innovation that transcends conventional methods. Accelerated by artificial intelligence, gene analysis, and stem cell therapies, these tests are not just detecting but reshaping the narrative of early cancer identification. Here is a look at three cancer tests that are changing the landscape of early detection:

AI-powered tests

Detectiome, a precision medicine company based in the UAE, launched the Multicancer Early Detection (MCED) test, known as Revonco. Designed for the Middle Eastern population, Revonco uses artificial intelligence (AI) to provide accurate, efficient, and personalised cancer care solutions.

Currently available for research use only (RUO), Detectiome plans to use the test in clinical trials and pilot studies before registering it with the UAE's Ministry of Health and Prevention to be approved for public use. Revonco leverages generative AI and multiomics, an approach that combines and analyses several fields of study including genomics, epigenomics, and transcriptomics, to detect multiple types of cancers at their earliest stages, even before symptoms manifest.

The early detection capability can enhance treatment outcomes and raise the survival rates of cancer patients across the region.

Detectiome’s Revonco MCED test is optimised for the Middle Eastern population’s genetic diversity, avoiding limitations and biases associated with using data from Western populations for non-Western ethnicities.

Related: AI leads the way in advancing early disease detection

When used in the Middle East, a product designed for the genetic population of the United States and the European Union can be up to two times less effective. Such conditions necessitate the development of solutions targeted to distinct genetic populations to provide quality healthcare.

The emphasis on Middle Eastern genetic data assists Revonco's AI model in identifying various forms of tumours in their earliest stages, moving the burden of cancer from the late stage to the early stage and potentially boosting patient survival rates.

Gene Analysis

The Bioscience Institute's HELIXAFE prevention program offers an in-depth analysis of gene mutations, acquired and inherited, anticipating early detection in individuals with no clinical symptoms. HELIXAFE considers factors contributing to acquired mutations, providing a comprehensive understanding of cancer risks.

HELIXBALANCE, a companion solution, investigates risk factors beyond breast cancer, extending its reach to ovarian, lung, colon, and prostate cancers. A simple blood collection leads to results within three weeks, triggering the development of chemo-preventive therapy for positive results.

Related: Tech advancements improve breast cancer prognosis and diagnosis

Newborn stem cells

CellSave Arabia champions the use of newborn stem cells, particularly cord blood, rich in stem cells. This resource proves valuable for various medical treatments, including cancer and blood-related disorders.

Stem cell therapies, with a track record spanning over 30 years, continue to evolve, offering hope to patients and their families. Over 350,000 families worldwide have chosen to store their newborn's stem cells with CellSave, providing a powerful resource against potential future injuries and diseases.

Stem cell treatments encompass a spectrum of disorders, including acute and chronic leukemia, high-risk solid tumours, Hodgkin and non-Hodgkin lymphoma, and myelodysplastic syndromes. The evolving landscape of stem cell treatments positions them as a cornerstone in the pursuit of effective and innovative cancer care.

Back to Clinical

Circa 2023. We are in a world where AI and data science in pharma are exploding exponentially, and large amounts of data are being collected every single day. Unfortunately, there isn’t a clear way to sort through or analyse this data, let alone decide within a reasonable timeframe, and this phenomenon made many organisations data-rich and insight-poor.

Symptoms of being data rich and insight poor include the use of an abundance of indicators and the predominant use of a variety of retrospective medical and sales data from various sources. Often, too many indicators are used because the organisation is still subscribing to a traditional quality assurance methodology for performance improvement.

To successfully conduct market research and forecasting in international markets, pharmaceutical organisations need an in-depth understanding of the environment in which they are planning to operate, and this can be tricky as many lack reliable data intelligence.

Related: Advanced technologies and data are key to driving transformation of healthcare

Custom market research can plug the gaps in knowledge and help marketers make more effective strategic decisions. The healthcare landscape in each market especially emerging markets is complex and does not follow a structured drug approval process, as compared to the developed markets. Carrying out market research in these lesser-known markets can be challenging, requiring a strong understanding of the local healthcare environment and an awareness of cultural and behavioural nuances. Forecasting with limited data is especially valuable during times of uncertainty, such as the effects of COVID-19 on virtually all industries, in terms of disrupted supply chains and shifted consumer demand.

Some of the key considerations to bear in mind are:

• Encourage collaboration and expand horizons.
• Increase collaboration efforts between business, HCPs, research consultants, and life-science technologies so that they get into a seamless integration.

Who is the right source?

One should invest in adequate sample size to make sure your data is representative of the target population. Pharma customers today include various types of consumers including but not limited to doctors, pharmacists, hospitals, patients and caregivers. The sample size should include all customers to make sure drug development and other pharma products are on point. In increasingly competitive times, it is also a good point to consider payors in market research. Payors from the public segment will differ from payors from the private segment, hence it is crucial to consider them in the sample mix.

Unique data collection methods

While surveys are a great place to start when it comes to gathering data, it is important to expand the network to consider that the data collection is done at various aggregate levels. This will not only ensure that the collected data is truly representative of the target population but also increase the confidence of the organisation to utilise the information for effective decision-making.

Related: Personalised, next-gen healthcare experiences are within grasp

Stop, look, introspect, and be agile

It might be tempting to collect initial data and call it good. However, if there is anything the best practices dictate from the pharma industry, it is that it is complicated. This means that one needs to keep track of the quality of the information collected from the inception of your project to completion.

The more insight you can gather, the easier it will be to tailor your drug, product, or technology to your target audience. If there are a few questions or information that are correctly synthesised, they should be tweaked immediately and course corrected. After all, one will want to get the most accurate picture in the process and not wait last minute for course correction.

Compliance and regulatory landscape

Compliance, ethical and regulatory requirements should be followed to a T. There are several rules regarding privacy, adverse events (AE), and changes regarding the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). As such, no matter what data one collects in which geography, one must remain in compliance with all regulations. 

In today’s times when acquiring quality data may be a challenge, efforts need to be taken. This is not only to collaborate with various business leaders and stakeholders in the organisation when it comes to collecting data, but also to get their input once the data is collected as well. Different perspectives, teams, and professional backgrounds provide insight into data analysis that may be helpful when moving forward with forecasting and market research.

Conclusion

Market research provides insight into your target market’s needs and how to enhance the overall healthcare market experience. You can then use that information to guide the development of your product and other research projects. In other words, market research helps ensure you are investing your millions into something that is needed and that will be well received. The pharma industry is slowing down, which means market research is more important now than ever. As you are familiar with market research trends and challenges, it will arm you with the information to choose the right data collection and analysis tool and create a winning global market research plan.

The views in the article belong to the author and have no affiliation to any organisation — past or current.

References available on request.

 

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With over 14 years of experience in leading business strategy and forecasting, Sanobar Syed is an industry expert who works alongside top pharmaceutical firms and is involved in bridging the gap between academia and industry around strategy, analytics as well as forecasting emerging trends and their usage in the real-life pharmaceutical world. She has marked a presence in leading industry conferences across North America and Europe, delivered guest lectures, and developed academic modules in reputed Canadian institutions.

Back to Management

Since its inception in 2019 as a joint venture between Abu Dhabi Health Services Company (SEHA) and Mayo Clinic, Sheikh Shakhbout Medical City (SSMC) has set new benchmarks in healthcare, redefining healthcare excellence, not just in Abu Dhabi but also across the region.

This extends across various fronts — from conducting highly complex surgical procedures and earning recognition from government and healthcare authorities to enhancing the overall patient experience. Simultaneously, SSMC has been dedicated to the growth and development of its practitioners and staff, while driving forward in the realms of research and education.

These combined efforts have contributed to SSMC being one of the largest tertiary care hospitals in the UAE. This is well aligned with the nation’s mission to establish Abu Dhabi as a prominent global healthcare destination, as it advances on its journey to becoming a ‘Destination Medical Center’ for the region, backed by a robust infrastructure backbone.

SSMC has 732 patient beds, 18 operating theatres including a hybrid operating room, a 26-bed neonatal intensive care unit, and the UAE’s largest pathology lab. This allows the hospital to serve 5,000 patients each week, supported by a team of locally and internationally trained physicians and allied health professionals who work seamlessly together to provide integrated human-centric and compassionate care, while promoting comprehensive interdisciplinary learning.

Patient-first approach

At the core of SSMC’s unique model of care is putting the needs of patients first and foremost. Every aspect of care revolves around providing compassionate patient-centred care by a multidisciplinary team of experts within a fully comprehensive, multispecialty practice, supported by education and research.

In line with this, SSMC has year-on-year boosted its approach to patient safety and quality of care. The hard work has paid off not just in the form of positive results and systematic improvement, but also through accreditations and certifications — such as the Joint Commission International Accreditation, a widely recognised symbol of quality and patient safety.

Staff education and training also optimises the overall patient experience. Through staff training sessions, hospital personnel are empowered with the skills needed to listen, validate, and effectively manage concerns that patients and their families may have. This has greatly contributed to an annual growth in patient satisfaction, indicative of SSMC’s deep understanding of patient care. By engaging and empowering frontline staff to transform overall patient services, outpatient satisfaction rose from 60 per cent in 2020 to 65 per cent in 2022 and inpatient satisfaction rates increased from 67 per cent to 72 per cent over the same period.

Over the past year, SSMC has expanded its robotic surgery programme to include general surgery and gynaecologic surgery, complementing ongoing robotics work in urology and colorectal surgery. Recently, it also introduced the latest and unique version of a robotic-assisted surgical system to conduct knee joint replacement procedures with greater precision and accuracy compared to conventional surgical methods. The robotics-assisted approach ensures that the surgeon remains in full control throughout the procedure and contributes to enhancing surgical results with short and long-term outcomes for patients.

Advances in robotics provide quality surgical care that is less invasive, reduces the risk of blood loss and pain, and helps patients recover more quickly, which has seen the number of robotic surgeries rise from 20 cases in 2021 to 90 cases in 2022.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is another area that holds immense promise for healthcare, helping practitioners improve diagnostic accuracy with less need for invasive procedures. SSMC has continued to incorporate AI in care delivery by becoming the first hospital in the Middle East to launch an academy for upskilling medical practitioners using the AI-guided point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) device. Another innovation at SSMC is the introduction of AI-guided colonoscopy to identify smaller polyps that are typically difficult to detect.

SSMC’s appetite for innovation and excellence has seen it achieve a number of ‘firsts’ and key milestones, including:

• SSMC being recognised as a Centre of Excellence for stroke in Abu Dhabi. • SSMC becoming a level-one trauma centre for intensive care, trauma injuries and burns in Abu Dhabi.

• SSMC offering a new treatment for patients living with myasthenia gravis

• SSMC’s accreditation as an education institute from the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada

• The first Zenker’s peroral endoscopic myotomy (Z-POEM)

• Abu Dhabi’s first gynaecological robotic surgery

Advancing research and education

SSMC recognises the role that investments in education and research play in enhancing patient care. To date, our research achievements amount to over 87 studies in various stages. The SSMC research shield continues to push forward the frontiers of medical knowledge to improve patient care.

Earlier in 2023, SSMC opened a dedicated Clinical Trials Unit to set a new benchmark for innovative research and development in the UAE and the region. Clinical trials offer patients access to cutting-edge treatments and help respond to pressing present and future health challenges.

The education pillar is a major driver of SSMC’s status as a preferred medical institution for serious and complex care. In 2022, more than 513 learners from the UAE and the wider Middle East region were trained in the hospital’s five education centres, while 119 medical students were trained at SSMC, guiding a new set of expert healthcare professionals into the workstream. Meanwhile, more than 10,000 attendees gained access to exclusive educational events, guest lectures and conferences, keeping up the spirit of learning for all.

Committed to sustainability

SSMC’s onus to serve the community also goes beyond healthcare. Sustainability is an important facet of its culture, and the hospital has undertaken measures to enable more sustainable operations and reduce negative impacts on the environment, without undermining the level and quality of patient care.

These include limiting the use of harmful, wasteful, and non-recyclable products; sorting and recycling waste; replacing plastic bags with paper and recycled bags; a strict waste segregation process for general and catering waste; and using cleaner fuels for vehicles provided by the transportation office.

Furthermore, in line with SSMC’s commitment to reducing its carbon footprint, the hospital has permanently discontinued the use of Desflurane, an environmentally harmful anaesthetic, and replaced it with other inhaled anesthetics, which are just as effective.

SSMC’s Pathology and Laboratory Medicine Department was also recently awarded second place at the first Lab Sustainability Awards held at Medlab Middle East 2023, signifying efforts made in creating sustainable laboratory areas and linking with one of the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

In every corner of SSMC, we strive to foster innovation to meet the evolving needs of patients in the UAE and wider region.

To deliver holistic, transformational and human-centric care for each and every one of our patients, we are committed to developing the best workforce, bringing the newest technology, resources and processes together to provide a “category of one” service. Join us on this incredible journey toward a healthier, sustainable, and brighter future.

Back to Management

Saudi Arabia has emerged as a hub for healthcare excellence in the Middle East in recent years, with its rapidly growing healthcare sector attracting professionals from around the world. Among these professionals, foreign nurses have been in high demand to contribute to the country’s expanding healthcare workforce.

Sunil Kumar, Chief Executive Officer of DataFlow, a group that plays a crucial role in mitigating risks associated with hiring nurses in Saudi Arabia, explained the hiring process, saying that the group’s Primary Source Verification services securely screen and verify essential documents and credentials for healthcare professionals seeking employment in the Kingdom.

This verification is essential for obtaining licences to practice in Saudi Arabia and ensures that healthcare institutions are staffed with qualified and trustworthy professionals, he said.

Kumar also added that The DataFlow Group reviews educational degrees, professional licenses, identification documents, health licences, certificates, and experience certificates originating from outside Saudi Arabia.

Related: Empowering nurses through interoperability

“This thorough vetting process ensures that foreign nurses have the required expertise and credentials, thereby upholding the standard of healthcare delivery in the country,” he explained.

Such verifications prevent individuals with fraudulent or incorrect credentials from obtaining licenses and approvals to practice in the country. The group’s records show that the falsification rate among nursing applicants over the past year has been at a low 0.8 per cent.

The services provided by The DataFlow Group align seamlessly with Saudi Arabia’s broader goals of ensuring patient safety and maintaining high-quality healthcare delivery. This approach not only safeguards against potential risks associated with malpractice or misconduct but also promotes compliance with regulations and upholds professional standards, all of which enhance public trust and contribute to the country’s reputation for healthcare excellence.

Addressing the hiring trends, Kumar mentioned that Saudi Arabia’s burgeoning healthcare sector has witnessed a remarkable surge in foreign nurse applicants. In the past year alone, nurses accounted for more than half of the total applications received by the The DataFlow Group for healthcare professionals in the country. This trend underscores the growing appeal of nursing careers in Saudi Arabia among global healthcare professionals.

He also said that pursuing a nursing career as a foreign nurse in Saudi Arabia presents both opportunities and challenges.

Related: Growth opportunities in specialised sectors of Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia is currently going through a transformational phase. There is a huge demand on the Saudi healthcare system to provide better healthcare facilities to the rapidly increasing Saudi population and the growing elderly population. Studies show that the nursing profession in Saudi Arabia has seen a rapidly growing number of professionals in the country due to the robust policies and implementation under the Saudi Arabia Vision 2030.

In line with Vision 2030, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has greatly emphasised the nursing field as one of its key objectives. This Vision has provided an opportunity for nursing staff to actively contribute to healthcare management decisions while also facilitating the establishment of graduate academic programmes to enhance nursing proficiency and quality in Saudi Arabia. The primary objective of this vision is to address the issue of unemployment, as the demand for nursing professionals is high on a global scale, not just within the local context. The Vision implemented new policies and procedures to shed light on the importance of the nursing profession, and that happened by unifying the nursing staff, nursing leaders, and educators.

Back to Management

The National Center for Healthcare Leadership (NCHL) is an American 501(c)(3) non-profit organisation dedicated to advancing healthcare leadership and organisational excellence in the United States and abroad.

One of NCHL’s premier membership programs, the US Cooperative for International Patient Programs (USCIPP), is the United States’ industry consortium of hospitals and health systems with international programs. USCIPP fosters peer-to-peer learning and organisational improvement through inter-organisational initiatives and the continuous and open sharing of knowledge and industry best practices. USCIPP’s organisational members all share a focus on caring for patients traveling to the United States from abroad, and nearly all USCIPP members also engage in healthcare collaborations with partners from around the world.

Figure 1. USCIPP Member Organisations as of September 2023

• Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago
• Atrium Health
• Baptist Health South Florida
• Baylor St. Luke’s Medical Center
• Boston Children’s Hospital
• Brigham Health/Dana-Farber Cancer Institute
• Broward Health International
• Cancer Treatment Centers of America
• Cedars-Sinai
• Children’s Hospital Colorado
• Children’s Hospital Los Angeles
• Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia
• Children’s Mercy Kansas City
• Children’s National Hospital
• Cincinnati Children’s
• City of Hope
• Cleveland Clinic
• Cook Children’s Health Care System
• Dignity Health International
• Duke Health
• Gillette Children’s Specialty Healthcare
• Henry Ford Health
• Hospital for Special Surgery
• Houston Methodist
• Indiana University Health
• Johns Hopkins Medicine International
• Keck Medicine of the University of Southern California
• Kennedy Krieger Institute
• Mass General Brigham
• Mayo Clinic
• MD Anderson Cancer Center
• MedStar Georgetown University Hospital
• Memorial Healthcare System
• Memorial Hermann–Texas Medical Center & TIRR Memorial Hermann
• Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center
• Moffitt Cancer Center
• Nationwide Children’s Hospital
• Nemours Children’s Health
• New York University (NYU) Langone Health
• NewYork-Presbyterian
• Nicklaus Children’s Hospital
• Northwell Health
• Northwestern Medicine
• Ochsner Health System
• Rush University Medical Center
• Shriners Hospitals for Children
• St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital
• Stanford Medicine
• Texas Children’s Hospital
• The James Cancer Hospital at The Ohio State University
• The Paley Institute at St. Mary’s Medical Center
• The Shirley Ryan AbilityLab
• UChicago Medicine
• University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center
• University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) Health
• University of California, San Diego (UCSD) Health
• University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) Health
• University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC) and Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh of UPMC
• Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis
• Yale International Medicine Program

Related: Emerging opportunities in healthcare for youth in Saudi Arabia

International healthcare collaborations in the GCC

NCHL maintains a work product known as the USCIPP International Healthcare Collaborations Dashboard and Map as part of the business intelligence and international market analysis initiatives that the organisation leads for members of the USCIPP program. This unique tool uses a project classification typology that was developed by NCHL with input from USCIPP member organisations. It enables users to better understand the current players and projects in international markets of interest. Figure 2 outlines the top-level categories into which NCHL classifies all international healthcare collaborations.

While a collaboration may be most accurately described as falling into several of the categories above, the NCHL team assigns each relationship to a single category. Current work is underway to classify projects under multiple collaboration types where applicable. Criteria for inclusion include:

• The collaboration must involve a hospital or clinical facility.
• Collaborations involving only tech companies, insurance providers, non-governmental organisations (NGO), medical facilitators, or between two government entities (e.g., the Ministry of Health in two countries) are typically not included; there may be exceptions to this rule if, for example, an insurance company owns a patient care facility in another country.
• Collaborations funded by non-profit/ NGO grants/funding are normally included and tagged as externally funded.
• If the collaboration involves sending doctors to another country, it should be included only if both parties in the agreement are not government entities
• As of September 2023, NCHL’s research has identified at least 267 active healthcare collaborations in the GCC, most of which are in Saudi Arabia or the United Arab Emirates. The GCC accounted for 21% of cataloged collaborations across the globe. Specifically, NCHL’s research has identified:
• At least 133 active collaborations in the United Arab Emirates, which account for 50% of all collaborations in the GCC; the most common collaboration types in the United Arab Emirates are clinical and patient agreements (26%), followed by education and research (25%)
• At least 65 active collaborations in Saudi Arabia, which account for 24% of all collaborations in the GCC; the most common collaboration types in Saudi Arabia are education and research (42%), consulting and advisory (23%), and direct ownership and joint ventures (12%)
• At least 21 active collaborations in Kuwait, with education and research, clinical and patient agreements, and management services being the most common (each with 19%)
• At least 17 active collaborations in Qatar, with direct ownership and joint ventures being the most common (41%), followed by consulting and advisory (24%)
• At least 16 active collaborations in Bahrain, with education and research being the most common (44%), followed by clinical and patient agreements (19%)
• At least 15 active collaborations in Oman, with direct ownership and joint ventures being the most common (80%), followed by clinical and patient agreements (20%)

NCHL’s research is based both on publicly available information and data provided by USCIPP’s member organisations directly to NCHL. While NCHL has a team dedicated to conducting ongoing market monitoring and updates its database with new collaborations each month, the figures cited above are almost certainly still an underestimate of the true number of international healthcare collaborations across the world.

USCIPP member organisations have communicated to NCHL that some of their international healthcare collaborations with GCC partners are covered by non-disclosure agreements and are therefore not listed in the public domain. The figures above frequently change as new collaborative relationships are added to the database and map.

Related: Embracing the future: Saudi Arabia's digital healthcare revolution

Collaborations in Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia is a particularly robust example of cross-border collaboration in healthcare. In a country-level comparison of documented healthcare collaborations, Saudi Arabia ranks third, surpassed only by China (currently ranked first) and the United Arab Emirates (currently ranked second). The trends in Saudi Arabia’s market largely reflect broader trends in international healthcare collaboration across both the region and the world.

NCHL’s data and analysis show four notable trends in Saudi Arabia’s market:

1. Cross-border collaboration in Saudi Arabia has grown rapidly. The first documented collaborations in the country began in 2007 — by comparison, several countries have international relationships that date back to the 1990s or earlier. In just 15 years, Saudi Arabia has widely expanded both the size and scope of international healthcare partnerships.
2. The nature of collaborations reflects a particular focus on building healthcare capacity. Most identified collaborations in Saudi Arabia are either educational in nature or aim to increase the quality of and access to care through consulting, direct ownership, and joint venture agreements. The educational partnerships are primarily designed to increase the healthcare workforce’s access to training as well as facilitate cross-border knowledge sharing with international partners.
3. There is an increasing focus on specialisation. As of September 2023, only 13% of the collaborations in Saudi Arabia are specialised. This means that that the collaboration has a limited scope in terms of service lines covered by the relationship. While this is a small share of all collaborations in the country, it is noteworthy that almost every specialised collaboration began in the past five years. This demonstrates a shift towards addressing niche needs within the healthcare system. Some examples of specialised collaborations include:

a. In 2019, “Houston-based Baylor Genetics and Riyadh-based Saudi Diagnostic Limited, a subsidiary of King Faisal Specialist Hospital International Holding Company, signed (a memorandum of understanding) to exclusively work toward a strategic partnership agreement for all genetic testing and precision medicine in the Middle East and North Africa regions.”

b. In 2020, Jeddah Park Health established a collaboration with Johns Hopkins Medicine International through a “long-term clinical advisory engagement in developing the leading physical medicine and rehabilitation hospital in both the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and MENA region. The collaboration calls for a general consultation from Johns Hopkins Medicine International on the planning, development, and launch of a standalone physical medicine and rehabilitation-focused facility.”

c. In 2023, “Olayan Financial Company, represented by Olayan Saudi Holding Company, and Vamed Group, the Austria-headquartered healthcare provider, [partnered] to open a new rehabilitation and long-term care hospital in Saudi Arabia with a 150-bed capacity.

4. International hospitals, healthcare information technology companies, and other healthcare-focused organisations continue to show strong interest in establishing new collaborations in Saudi Arabia – as do the national governments of their countries of origin. In a particularly recent example, in September 2023, the International Trade Administration of the US Department of Commerce led a delegation of 15 American healthcare companies — including five hospitals — on a healthcare-focused trade mission to Saudi Arabia. The purpose of the trade mission was to allow “participating US firms [to] gain market insights, make industry and government contacts, solidify business strategies, and advance specific projects with the goal of increasing US healthcare product and service exports.”

References available on request.

Callie Lambert is the Director of Research, and Jarrett Fowler is the Senior Director, Strategic and International Initiatives, at the National Center for Healthcare Leadership (NCHL) in the US.

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In today's rapidly evolving healthcare landscape, the importance of delivering client-centric solutions cannot be overstated. As the demand for accessible and effective healthcare services continues to grow, it has become increasingly clear that a collaborative, user-centred approach to service design is essential for achieving meaningful and sustainable improvements in healthcare delivery. In this article, Martin Sandhu, founder of digital healthcare specialist agency nuom, explores the significance of such an approach in the development of healthcare solutions.

The argument for user-centred healthcare

The traditional healthcare model often centred around providers and systems in the past, with little emphasis on the needs and preferences of patients. However, this approach is gradually giving way to a more client-focused model, that recognises that healthcare is at its most effective when it revolves around the clients it serves and delivers high levels of engagement and empowerment.

In addition, a healthcare programme should not be one-size-fits-all, as clients vary in their preferences, backgrounds, and circumstances. A user-centric approach recognises this diversity and seeks to develop solutions that are tailored to individual needs. This may include personalised treatment plans, culturally sensitive care, and accommodations for personal circumstances such as information provided in other languages. 

Related: Enhance patient-physician bonds in the age of smart hospitals

An example in practice

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) estimates that 0.5 per cent to 1.0 per cent of the UK population had a chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. Consequently, the National Health Service (NHS) in the UK has put in place initiative that will enable the elimination of hepatitis C within the next five years.

The first port of call in this ambitious project was to design a testing service that was easy to use at home and without the need for seeing a GP or going to the hospital, thus doing away with the embarrassment that some patients may feel.

A new test service was developed in partnership with Preventx and nuom, with further input from the Hepatitis C Trust. The self-testing kits aimed to reach people who may not be engaged with other services such as drug and alcohol support, prison and probation services, as well as people who may have potentially been exposed to virus in the past, or who do not feel able to approach their GP.

It goes without saying that one of the key challenges in addressing Hepatitis C is the fear of stigma that prevents many individuals at risk from coming forward. The new web portal offered a safe and accessible platform for people to seek information, get tested, and access support without fear of judgment or discrimination.

The project was a success due in part to the end-to-end nature of blue printing that nuom employed when producing research for the service design element of the campaign.

Collaboration in healthcare service design

If we want to create truly client-focused healthcare solutions, collaboration is paramount. This collaboration extends beyond healthcare providers and should include input from patients, caregivers, and even non-healthcare professionals who can provide valuable insights. At nuom we employed a collaborative cross-platform approach to hit a nation-wide target.

According to the NHSE, deaths from hepatitis C have fallen by 35 per cent. This means that the NHS has exceeded the World Health Organisation (WHO)'s target of a 10 per cent drop in mortality by more than three-fold, and the target for disease elimination has been "dramatically cut" five years ahead of schedule.

But the UK is not a singular example in the fight against Hepatitis C. Committed to fighting the disease, the Egyptian government designed the ‘100 Million Healthy Lives’ programme. The six-step process the country employed started with robust testing but relied on creating a heavily resourced flow of individuals from screening to treatment, according to Forbes.

Related: Healthcare's pioneering role in global sustainability efforts

Cross-platform collaboration

A cross-platform collaboration brings together a diversity of perspectives ensures that healthcare solutions are comprehensive and address a wide range of client needs.

Crucially, collaboration fosters innovation by encouraging creative thinking and the exploration of novel approaches. When different stakeholders come together, they can brainstorm new ideas and challenge conventional practices.

Another important element in service design is validation. By involving clients in the design process allows for the validation of concepts and ideas. What may seem like a good solution to healthcare professionals may not align with the priorities and preferences of patients. Client input helps ensure that proposed solutions are practical and effective.

But perhaps the most important element of the service design is cultural competency. In order to target the communities most at risk, nuom researchers understood that healthcare is often delivered in diverse communities with varying cultural norms and expectations. This meant that the communications materials and the app were developed in a multitude of languages and dialects, from English to Urdu, Arabic and Polish, to reach as many at-risk individuals as possible.

Conclusion

A collaborative, client-centred approach to healthcare service design is vital for delivering high-quality solutions. By involving clients, caregivers, and diverse stakeholders in the design process, healthcare organisations can develop solutions that are more effective, innovative, and culturally competent. This approach not only improves patient outcomes and satisfaction, but also empowers clients to take charge of their health, ultimately leading to a more responsive and compassionate healthcare system that considers cultural norms and ethnic approaches.

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The UAE is digitising rapidly. Government programmes make it clear how important technologies like blockchain, AI, the Internet of Things, and 5G are to sustainable progress. Healthcare, like other industries, has taken the digital plunge. Accelerated by the COVID-19 crisis, hospitals and clinics across the land invested in the future to transform and optimise information flow, improve care efficiency, and enhance the patient experience.

For example, telemedicine is cheaper, safer, and more convenient for the patient while rationalising the use of resources for the provider. The nation’s telemedicine market could, according to one estimate, reach more than US$536.5 million by 2025, exhibiting a CAGR of 25 per cent over the five years from 2020. Virtual visits alone, which were worth US$73.5 million in 2020, could leap to US$280.7 million by 2025 – a CAGR of more than 30 per cent.

But delivering excellent digital experiences in healthcare does not come without challenges. The industry has traditionally trailed other sectors, such as FSI, on individualisation. Entities are hampered by many factors, including a lack of interoperability options between providers and a reticence to share patient data for fear of being at odds with privacy regulators. Meanwhile, outdated authentication processes also get in the way of progress. But if we are to deliver a better experience to patients, we must be able to track them as a retail business would – across multiple identities, sessions, facilities, and networks. It is how we eliminate treatment delays and improve care outcomes. We often talk about “Patient 360”, the assembly of information over time that can give a longitudinal record of care that begets better care as time goes on. To deliver this level of care, we need to overcome our barriers.

Customer identity and access management (CIAM) solves many of these issues. CIAM is the practice of turning a consumer into a single digital identity that is uniquely recognisable across services, platforms, systems, and even (with the right cooperation) various businesses. While this may strike you as an approach more appropriate to retailers, I will show how the B2C use case applies just as well between healthcare organisations and their patients. We can even use it for physicians, nurses, lab technicians, and administrative employees in a business-to-employee (B2E) scenario, or for streamlined communication and workflow acceleration between providers and third parties such as pharmaceutical or insurance companies. Let us take a look at each in more detail.

B2C CIAM

In the B2C scenario, the business could be a provider, payer, or pharmacy and the customer could be a patient or their representative. B2C CIAM can facilitate single sign-on (SSO), multifactor authentication (MFA), and step-up authentication (where users are asked for more credentials when they request more sensitive information). SSO allows patients to access their healthcare information from anywhere, on the device of their choosing, while MFA and step-up authentication reassure patients that they are secure while doing so.

B2C CIAM also enables the delivery of portal services for members and patients as well as the omni-channel experiences today’s consumers prefer. And consent management comes as standard, allowing patients to give permission to share their data with different providers.

B2B CIAM

For seamless operations, healthcare organisations must be able to collaborate with others, such as pharmaceutical companies or insurance providers. CIAM delivers secure, compliant data-sharing and streamlines partner onboarding and offboarding. Role-based access ensures that every participating party receives access only to the data and applications they need for their function.

The integrated delivery network (IDN) or healthcare network – the ecosystem of sub-organisations like providers, accountable care organisations (ACOs), and healthcare facilities – can use a CIAM platform to authenticate patients who move across facilities. Other common B2B scenarios for CIAM include third-party technology partners that provide solutions to healthcare organisations, which then provide them to others in the network.

B2E CIAM

Healthcare enterprises can use IAM to securely manage their workforce’s access to internal applications and data. As with other scenarios, a role-appropriate level of access is granted to each employee. MFA and SSO can ensure security and ease of use, ensuring physicians, their colleagues, and other authorised professionals can access critical systems when necessary. This can happen through smart cards, tokens, or mobile apps.

As with network partners, IAM can streamline onboarding and offboarding for all staff. It can improve security across the board and enhance regulatory compliance while boosting workforce productivity.

Let’s get personal

CIAM in healthcare is a natural fit for all the challenges faced in the transformative age. It is a critical component in delivering Patient 360, and also in the creation of the “digital patient double,” which is a data representation of a patient that allows healthcare businesses to manage digital sessions and personalise them.

In a world that is inescapably digital, everything we do is eligible for digitalisation. When applied to healthcare, through CIAM, this bodes well for the quality of care, the efficiency of workflows, and the overall patient experience.

Michael Bunyard is Vice President / Head of Marketing, at IAM

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