Dubai Healthcare City Authority (DHCA), the governing body of Dubai Healthcare City (DHCC), recently launched a whitepaper ‘Emerging Opportunities in Middle East Healthcare’ that reveals in-depth insights into the regional healthcare sector, with a special focus on the GCC.

The study, the latest initiative in DHCA’s mission to contribute to the development of the healthcare sector in line with Dubai’s goal to become one of the world’s top 10 healthcare destinations, underlines the growth of the GCC and wider MENA healthcare landscape over the past decade and shines a light on the opportunities for investors.

Key findings from the whitepaper forecast healthcare spending in the GCC will grow at a CAGR of 4.9 per cent to US$99.6 billion in 2023 from US$86.2 billion in 2020, with the UAE and Saudi Arabia commanding approximately 80 per cent share of the total spending.

The report highlights a renewed focus on healthcare as a holistic rather than a symptomatic issue, further amplifying opportunities in the preventive medicine sector, especially as the governments are increasingly aligned with World Health Organisation’s approach. Additionally, the whitepaper acknowledges recent regulatory changes in Dubai’s healthcare sector to improve efficiencies, and an increasing focus on private-public partnership projects, which Dubai Healthcare City is leading the way on, as a primary enabler of industry growth.

Commenting on the whitepaper launch, Salim Dahman, Marketing and Communication Director, DHCA, said: “Since DHCC was launched in 2002, we have dedicated our efforts to realise Dubai’s goals of becoming a global leader in healthcare and wellness. To be able to address market demand, it is vital to understand its realities, and this whitepaper will help us to cater to the needs of our partners and the wider healthcare industry.”

Additional key findings demonstrate the resilience of Dubai’s healthcare sector. Research shows that despite pandemic-related restrictions on global travel, Dubai doubled the number of health tourists in 2021, wherein spending by international patients during the year reached nearly US$198 million.

Underling DHCC’s role as a key contributor to the emirate’s diverse economic growth, the paper revealed that the freezone contributed Dh2.8 billion to Dubai’s GDP in 2021, a figure expected to reach Dh3.4 billion by 2030. It has emerged as a catalyst for the healthcare job market, as it has now facilitated the creation of 15,760 jobs in Dubai.

This article appears in the Daily Dose 2023. Read the full issue online today.

< Back to Management

Dubai Health Authority highlighted during Arab Health 2023 that it will introduce a value-based healthcare model across 30 disease areas for the emirate by 2025.

The model known as EJADAH, which means proficiency in Arabic, was launched in June 2022 and it is a value-based model rather than a volume-based healthcare model. DHA’s Dubai Health Insurance Corporation, which regulates the health insurance sector in Dubai, is overseeing the implementation of EJADAH.

The model uses AI technology for predictive healthcare analysis for early intervention, disease prevention and to prevent complications caused by the disease.

The AI technology will be initially used for two diseases: diabetes and asthma. The model will also include patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) to assess the outcome of care from the patient’s perspective.

Saleh Al Hashimi, CEO of Dubai Health Insurance Corporation said: “The model will create a transformational shift in the health sector as providers and payers move towards a value-based care model instead of the current volume-based care model. The value-based model will benefit patients, it will lead to the transformation towards preventive and outcome-based care, at the same time, it will benefit providers and payers as it will optimize healthcare expenditure and lead to better population health.”

The value-based healthcare model will pay for performance and outcomes that matter to patients, it will provide healthcare service providers with evidence-based guidelines, which will be a framework for all physicians to follow with regard to treatment protocols for all ailments.

Insurance providers will have a strong foundation to refer to evidence-based data and all stakeholders will work together to enhance healthcare and reduce unnecessary medical expenditure.

Al Hashimi added: “The model is driven by quality outcomes and at its core lies the health of patients, it will help shift the focus on preventive care, which will benefit patients and lead to reduced healthcare expenditure thus leading to healthcare sustainability. It will also help improve government oversight of the health sector by overseeing clinical outcomes, economic and human-centric outcomes. The implementation of this model will lead to a transformation in the health sector wherein the focus lies entirely on performance and clinical outcomes.”

Al Hashimi added that payers and providers have been undergoing training to understand the framework and KPI’s which will lead to minimal waste of healthcare expenditure and enhanced focus on preventive care.

Since the launch of the model last year, DHA has identified and prioritised 30 key diseases until 2025 when this model will be applied:

• In 2022, Dubai’s healthcare sector received training to use this model across diseases such as asthma, diabetes, Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), lower back pain and respiratory infections. The sector was also provided in-depth training on maternity care guidelines in line with international best practices.
• In 2023, the focus will be on Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), Osteoporosis, Hyper Hypothyroidism, Atopic dermatitis, Urinary Tract Infections, Migraine and Myocardial infarction (MI).
• In 2024, the focus will be on Peptic Ulcer Disease, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Obesity and Metabolic Syndrome, Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome, Acne, Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia and Arrhythmia.
• In 2025, the areas of focus will include Gallstones, Osteoporosis, Thyroid disease, Dermatitis, Psoriasis, CHD/Stroke, DVT and renal failure.

Dr. Mohamed Farghaly, Family Medicine Consultant, Diabetologist and Professor of Medicine at Dubai Medical College and Consultant at the Dubai Health Insurance Corporation highlighted that the model will lead to a sustainable healthcare system. Dr Farghaly is also the lead of the EJADAH project at the DHA.

Dr. Farghaly, explained how a significant per cent of the cost of managing non-communicable diseases such as diabetes actually goes towards managing the complications of the disease rather than the disease itself. He said that by implementing an ecosystem that focuses on preventive care and patient-centered care, this cost can be significantly reduced. The model will empower patients and lead to a sustainable health system.

Dr. Farghaly added: “It will increase efficiency, efficacy, and safety whilst utilising best practices and methodologies.”

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This article appears in the Daily Dose 2023. Read the full issue online today.

< Back to Management

Professor Sharon Lewin, Director, Doherty Institute, Melbourne, Australia, was recently a part of The Healthcare Transformation Talks at Arab Health, where she put the spotlight on the search for an HIV cure and why it’s needed. She summarised the science behind why a cure for HIV hasn’t been found yet and some of the strategies and testing that have been put in place to achieve a cure. Excerpts from the interview:

What strategies should be put in place to achieve a cure for HIV?

There are three main strategic areas. First is combination immunotherapy, which means enhancing the immune response through a range of methodologies. This is carried out by using neutralising antibodies, vaccines, or immunomodulating drugs. We are most interested in immune checkpoint blockers, as these are drugs that are used to enhance immune function. At the same time, the virus and the pool of infected cells need to be reduced. This can be done through what we call reversing HIV latency. Several different approaches are being used to do this, such as small molecules, mRNA, and lipid nanoparticles, among others.

The next approach is called ex vivo gene therapy or cellular therapy. This involves taking cells out of the body, modifying them to either become resistant to HIV or to enhance immune function to make CAR T-cells, which are then put back in the body.

The final approach is in vivo gene therapy, which means adding cells directly into a patient through gene editing tools that can either protect cells from HIV, enhance the immune response, or directly target the virus.

Is there any one approach that is showing more promise than the other?

In animal models, combination immunotherapy has been more advanced, meaning there have been more studies that have directly asked the question of enhancing immune function to achieve control of the virus in the absence of treatment, and some of those strategies have now moved into clinical trials. There is a very early indication from some of those trials that this may work for a small number of people. Gene therapy, on the other hand, has been tested in animal models, and there haven’t been any results in clinical trials indicating that this is going to work. I also think technological advances are very significant in gene therapy, particularly in vivo gene editing tools. So, I think all potential pathways have some promise. However, combination immunotherapy is more advanced.

What role is technology playing in helping find a cure?

We are using technology to understand why we don’t have a cure, in other words, where the virus is hiding on antiviral therapy. Technological advances are needed, for example, to analyse a single cell that carries the virus and then understand what’s different about it. Additionally, strategies rely heavily on technological advances in antibody development, vaccine production, etc.

What, in your opinion, will be the healthcare trends for 2023?

I think we are going see a lot of advances in gene therapy, ex vivo and in vivo, primarily because of the technological advances in those areas, which have been quite significant. They are very much driven by advances in mRNA therapeutics. At the same time, cancer immunotherapy is also advancing rapidly, which has direct implications for HIV.

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This article appears in the Daily Dose 2023. Read the full issue online today.

Our life is by nature filled with emergencies and unforeseen events that require immediate attention. We are at the heart of a revolution that is changing the way we live and work, including how we think about and operate emergency care. This revolution is transforming treatment and diagnostics, the relationship between health professionals and patients and is altering the setup and management of health systems. At the heart of this massive shift are the fourth industrial revolution and the project economy, respectively addressing the “what” and the “how” of reimagining emergency care.

The fourth industrial revolution is a range of new technologies that fuse the physical, digital and biological worlds, while the project economy, a term coined by Dr. Antonio Nieto-Rodriguez, a world-leading expert in project management, refers to the paradigm shift where projects are displacing and replacing operations as the economic powerhouse of our time.

At a time of exponential advances in AI, robotics and big data, projects involving the changing of organisations are disrupting operations that traditionally involve the running of organisations. Projects are increasingly at the heart of organisational transformation, faster product and solutions development, and agile technological adoption. Unfortunately, in many countries, healthcare systems in general and emergency care suffer from strict demarcation lines of responsibilities, institutionalised limits on care provision and silo mentality. This is a well-known problem as emergency care provision is multi-disciplinary, hence in need of breaking up the silos and building collaboration to address patient needs.

The silo/collaboration dichotomy is mainly the result of historical developments and focus on running emergency care organisations rather than also changing them. If running is the lifeline of emergency care but change is critical to take advantage of the opportunities of the fourth industrial revolution, how can we combine the two in the services of emergency care? Welcome to the project economy.

Medicine, as a professional domain, dates back to the early 19th century. Emergency care traces back to the French Revolution (1789–1799), however, it developed in its current form only in the 1960s, making it the most recently developed field in medicine. Before the 1960s, staff in emergency care hospitals usually worked in rotation with family doctors, physicians, general surgeons, and other specialists.

At its core, emergency care involves the rapid assessment, treatment, and triage of critically ill patients (hence the focus on the running of emergency organisations). With ongoing medical system reforms around the world and the implementation of hierarchical diagnostic and treatment systems, emergency care is busy with operating its function and naturally struggles with changing the organisation.

The Covid pandemic showed that it is necessary to move the front of first aid forward, conduct multi-disciplinary cooperation, provide treatment to all types of critically ill patients, handle public health emergencies, and foster hierarchical diagnosis and treatment. In many cases, the timely, orderly and efficient application of the latest technologies to the early treatment of critically ill patients matters most.

Against this backdrop, what are the opportunities to re-imagine emergency care? We divide them into four broad categories:

Inefficiencies and process optimisation

The first opportunity is eliminating inefficiencies (i.e., crowding), process optimisation and early treatment to elevate the organisational and individual capacity for early identification, appropriate treatment, and life support. Here the competencies and leadership skills of emergency medical professionals are vital: it is critical to nurture the capacity for rapid response, effectiveness, and service attitude, and equip medical professionals with the necessary leadership skills regardless of job roles and titles.

Managing emotions and inter-departmental logistics, delegation and practice efficiency, when and how to say ‘no’ to a patient, managing difficult patients, establishing boundaries, shaping patient satisfaction, effective and when necessary incisive communication with staff and patients are much-needed leadership skills in emergency care.

Seamless data flow

Reimagining emergency care needs technology, particularly big data and the Internet of Things (IoT). IoT adoption is critical, as the need for timely diagnosis and treatment of patients continues to grow. IoT is a system of interrelated computing devices, mechanical and digital machines, objects, animals or people that are provided with unique identifiers and the ability to transfer data over a network without requiring human or human-to-computer interaction. In IoT a “thing” can be a patient with a heart monitor implant, an ambulance with built-in sensors to alert the hospital, or any other object that can be assigned an internet protocol address and can transfer data over a network.

Technology can help tap available resources and collect information on patients, helping emergency staff in real-time. If no specialists or general practitioners are on site, a patient’s critical information can be wirelessly transmitted to experts delivering remote guidance that may be critical to saving lives. Remote monitoring also enables hospitals to grasp patients’ condition at the earliest, create emergency plans in advance, allowing a seamless connection between out-of-hospital emergency and in-hospital treatment. In addition, the collection, processing, storage, and sharing of out-of-hospital emergency data can elevate treatment efficiency and service excellence.

Data and Decisions

Big data can fully analyse and develop insights into medical information to support decision-making. One important application is cloud technology for emergency and critical care information management. A cloud platform can collect diagnostic, examination, and treatment-related patient data from databases (i.e., emergency logbooks, picture archives, hospital information and communication system, microbial detection and management systems, or a pathology information system).

The data can then be cleaned, classified, extracted, and investigated using the platform and can serve as the basis for a teaching management system, including a multidisciplinary triage management system, a critical care score and grading management system, and an early warning system for emergencies. This can greatly improve teaching efficiency and the ability to diagnose and treat. As we know, insights are a beautiful thing but need to be used by emergency care personnel well equipped to make a wide range of decisions, from daily running of the organisation to decisions involving the changing of the organisation, and what or how it operates, such as the decision to equip the emergency care entity with data-driven decision-making capabilities in the first place.

Precision Emergency Medicine

Precision medicine is an emerging approach to treatment and prevention. It considers individual variability in genes, environment, and lifestyle. It is intended to enable doctors and researchers to predict more accurately treatment and prevention strategies for a particular disease for different groups of people, as opposed to the average person.

Emergency care represents the first critical link in the diagnosis-treatment of critical illnesses and infectious diseases, and individualised, accurate assessment and prevention of disease susceptibility requires fourth industrial revolution technology adoption. Acute infectious diseases are most common in emergency care, but due to their complexity, require timely detection technology, and multidimensional clinical information integration technology to diagnose and treat.

The above are only some examples of how technology can enable growth in emergency care. AI is crucial to develop capabilities in prediction, analysis, and response. When AI engines and applications execute instructions, they can learn from big data through image/speech recognition, human-to-computer interaction and physical sensing. AI can also assist to anticipate potential risks and threats, assess the situation and predict the required medical services.

What is now required in emergency care (as well as in many other fields) is the human willingness and ability to be “organisationally and mentally ambidextrous” as opposed to “structurally ambidextrous” (i.e, separate structures for different types of activities). Organisational ambidexterity means being able to run current capabilities (operations) while exploring the new ideas (change via projects) while mental ambidexterity allows emergency care personnel to make daily choices between normal operations and adaptation-oriented activities (change) in the context of their day-to-day work. Changing the organisation includes innovation, transformation, agility and value creation in the long term.

Emergency care operates in disruptive change, hence driving this change is paramount. In the project economy, projects are the means to explore new ground and new competencies, focus on medium to long term, deliver strategic objectives and operate in entrepreneurial ways based on collaboration, not silos to change and transform emergency care. Striking the right balance between running operations and change is key.

Tools such as the Project Canvas can guide professionals in each stage of a project, before, during and after its launch. It is a one-page strategic template inspired by the work of Alex Osterwalder and Yves Pigneur for the business model canvas and is based on any project’s purpose, people and the creation of value.

We are at the dawn of reimagining emergency care, placing emphasis on expertise rather than location, and adopting technology to elevate human life and expand our capabilities. The health sector is among the most exposed to technological evolution and the magic word in maximising the benefits of tech innovation in emergency care is “change”. Welcome to reimagining emergency care: from idea to run.

Dr. Selina Neri is the Professor of Leadership and Corporate Governance at Hult Ashridge.

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This article appears in the Daily Dose 2023. Read the full issue online today.

< Back to Clinical

As we emerge from the pandemic, medical travel is slowly bouncing back. Right from IVF and cosmetic and plastic surgery to dentistry, orthopaedic surgery, cardiac surgery, oncology, and organ transplantation, patients worldwide are once again expanding their horizons when it comes to healthcare.

Recent reports have highlighted that the global medical tourism market is expected to reach US$54,201.88 million by 2027, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 11.23 per cent between 2022 and 2027.

There are several reasons why people look beyond borders for treatment options. Research has found that almost 56 per cent of patients want better treatment, while 22 per cent want to pay less. Also, 18 per cent of patients are seeking treatment options that are not available in their home countries, and 10 per cent want the treatment as soon as possible and without waiting in line. Furthermore, as the global disease burden continues to rise, patients are looking for enhanced personalised wellness programmes, bringing medical wellness tourism into focus.

Medical travel hotspots

Several countries have shown promising growth over the past years, in part due to their breathtaking landscapes. Canada ranks first on the 2020-2021 Medical Tourism Index thanks to its serene surroundings and world-class medical services. However, several other countries are also making their mark on the industry. Below we dive deeper into some of the most sought-after medical travel destinations.

India

Reportedly, the number of foreign patients in India grows by 25 per cent annually on average. One of the primary reasons for its popularity is that the treatment costs here are less than in other developed countries, and wait times are non-existent. Many of the country’s private facilities are Joint Commission International (JCI) certified, highlighting that stringent international standards are maintained. Some of the most popular treatments for which people visit India include bone-marrow transplants, bariatric and obesity surgery, eye surgery, cardiac surgery, cancer treatment, gynaecological issues, and hip grafting and replacement surgery. Moreover, people can opt for alternative medicine, such as ayurveda and naturopathy, to recover more holistically.

Japan

The land of the rising sun ranks third in the Medical Tourism Index. In 2018, 31.19 million international tourists visited the country for medical procedures. On the one hand, the country’s healthcare facilities are equipped with state-of-the-art medical technologies; on the other, it has several great tourist attractions, making it a must-visit. But it is important to highlight that medical procedures are often quite expensive here. The reason why Japan ranks highly on the list is thanks to its advanced medical facilities and a higher standard of treatment.

Singapore

According to the Medical Tourism Index, Singapore ranks second among the top 46 destinations. The country reportedly receives around 500,000 visitors annually and is renowned for its cardiology, haematology, oncology, neurology, stem cell therapy, and orthopaedic treatments. It is counted among the safest cities for receiving state-of-the-art medical support and has one of the highest numbers of JCI accredited hospitals. Reports have found that treatments, such as heart bypass surgery, would cost between US$16,000 to US$25,000 here, compared to the United States, where it costs a whopping US$123,000. So, patients can save about 25 per cent to 40 per cent in treatment expenses.

Spain

According to reports, the country has the highest rating on organ transplants, with a donation rate of 36 donors per million people. The World Health Organization (WHO) ranks Spain as the seventh best healthcare destination in Europe. It has been reported that patients can save between 30 per cent to 70 per cent of costs compared to US, UK, and Canada. Besides, as one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world, Spain makes an ideal getaway for those looking to explore the country’s rich culture while undergoing treatments such as orthopaedic surgery, dentistry, cosmetic surgery, eyesight surgery, and obesity surgery.

Thailand

A well-established tourism destination, more than nine per cent of Thailand’s GDP is attributed to medical tourism. Estimates suggest that over three million people visit Thailand every year to avail themselves of the country’s medical facilities. Treatments here cost 50 per cent to 80 per cent less as compared to the West. Patients from the United States, Middle East, Vietnam and Laos make up a huge chunk of those seeking LASIK, cosmetic surgery such as anti-ageing treatments and IVF. The country is also well-known for its hospitality, and it boasts a highly skilled medical workforce that’s been educated primarily in Europe. Even for some of the most complex and multi-stage treatments and surgeries, patients rarely have to wait in long queues. Its beautiful beaches and rejuvenating natural landscapes are other reasons why Thailand continues to be a preferred medical travel destination.

Turkey

Turkey is well-regarded as a popular medical travel destination and is known for its hair transplants, cosmetic surgery, oncology, and IVF treatments, among others. The country offers affordable procedures, high-quality care, and access to top-notch medical care. Medical procedures in the country reportedly cost 70 per cent less than those in the US. The staff of most healthcare institutions is well-trained and board-certified. Another advantage of getting treated in Turkey is that it offers visa-free travel to over 70 countries.

United Arab Emirates

Over the past few years, the UAE has become a budding destination for medical travel. In 2021, the country welcomed over 630,000 medical tourists. This growth can be attributed to its recent medical care accomplishments, and the ease with which visitors can book medical procedures and take advantage of discounted airfares, visa, medical insurance, hotels stay, leisure activities and more. The country has evolved into a medical travel hub thanks to its proximity to Europe and the Middle East. Compared to the US and UK, patients here can save between 30 per cent to 40 per cent in costs for the same procedures. According to reports, the country’s medical travel market is expected to go up to AED 19 billion this year. Some of the most commonly performed procedures here are gynaecological procedures, liposuction, rhinoplasty, micro-needling, Botox, and bariatric surgery, among others.

The way forward

The global medical travel industry is evolving rapidly, and patients’ behaviour and preferences are creating more dynamism in the market. The good news is, with most travel restrictions being lifted, people are on the lookout for enhanced treatment options. Over the next few years, newer destinations with interesting offerings and more value will emerge, and cutting-edge technology will drive innovation in products and services and enhance patient outcomes.

 

Dr. Raza Siddiqui is the CEO of Arabian Healthcare Group.

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This article appears in the Daily Dose 2023. Read the full issue online today.

 

Connect with lab and healthcare manufacturers and suppliers at Medlab Asia and Asia Health from August 16 - 18.  Register here.

The DHA’s health investment sector developed this year’s edition of the Dubai Health Investment Guide and highlighted key focus areas of investment until 2025 and beyond. The aim of the Dubai Health Investment Guide 2023 is to provide investors with detailed information on key priority areas of investment in health alongside a detailed overview of the health sector so that they can make viable investments.

Health investment in areas of need and future demand benefits investors, helps create a dynamic and robust health sector, and provides community members and visitors with access to the highest quality of specialised and accessible care.

Dr. Ibtesam Al Bastaki, Director of Investments and PPPs at DHA, highlighted that Dubai’s strategic location, investment-friendly climate, future outlook, diverse and growing population, the influx of medical tourists, support and guidance received by investors are some of the reasons that make the Emirate a favourable investment destination.

Al Bastaki said: “Investment facilitation and ease of doing business have resulted in increased FDI inflows into the country, thereby endorsing Dubai’s status of being a preferred investment destination amongst global investors. Despite COVID-19, we saw steady FDI inflows in the health sector.”

In 2021, the FDI inflows that Dubai attracted US$37.2 million in healthcare from countries such as USA, India, UK, France, Sweden and Japan, according to the Dubai’s Department of Economic Development. Al Bastaki highlighted that post-COVID-19 key areas of focus include innovation, digital health medical equipment, mental health, MedTech start-ups, urgent care, long-term care, rehabilitation and home care.

She said: “These are the key areas of focus for the next three to five years. In MedTech we are keen on attracting MedTech start-ups and companies in medical devices, diagnostics and digital health. In terms of digital health, the aim is to empower patients with as much convenience as possible by providing them with telemedicine services as well as empowering them by providing them with access to their medical information and devices that will help them monitor their health on a daily basis.

“Homecare is a service we want to particularly tailor for the ageing population, to provide them with care as well as regular timely follow-ups in the comfort of their homes.” She added that Dubai has seen tremendous growth in the health sector and that the sector continues to attract foreign direct investment.

Dubai has 4,482 private health facilities. In the last five years, the percentage growth of health facilities is about 45 per cent. Along with the growth in the number of healthcare facilities, Dubai has also witnessed an impressive 61 per cent increase in licensed medical professionals to reach 55,208 in 2022.

The DHA’s projections for 2023 and beyond estimate growth of 10 to 15 per cent for medical professionals and 3 to 6 per cent for facilities.

According to the latest Medical Tourism Index, Dubai ranks No. 1 in the Middle East and North Africa and No. 6 in the world for medical tourism, with the city ranking No. 5 globally on the sub-index of Quality of Facilities and Services. Dubai’s emergence as a significant player in the private healthcare sector is driven by its high standards and regulations, making it a popular destination for medical tourism thanks to high-quality healthcare.

Al Bastaki highlighted that streamlined and clear regulatory policies supported by online professional and facility license procedures have also greatly contributed to attracting both high-quality professionals and renowned international health facilities to Dubai.

She said the Dubai Health Investment Guide provides reliable and robust information on the demand for health services, supply, and capacity gaps to enable investments in strategic opportunities and specialised health services. This helps enhance the competencies of the overall healthcare sector in Dubai and increases awareness of the economic viability as well as helps attract foreign direct investment (FDI) and local investment.

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This article appears in the Arab Health Daily Dose 2023. Read the full issue online today.

Around one in 20 patients is exposed to preventable harm in medical care, according to a report titled, ‘Prevalence, severity, and nature of preventable patient harm across medical care settings: systematic review and meta-analysis’, while 12 per cent of preventable patient harm is either severe or leads to death. The same review found that 25 per cent of preventable harm in medical care was related to medication. Beyond the human cost of healthcare medication errors, the World Health Organisation estimates the global cost to be US$42 billion annually.  

Obviously, safety is the top priority in healthcare and one patient harmed from a medical error is one too many, but healthcare faces a labour shortage and an ageing workforce among physicians. Hospitals around the world recognise that their workers are experiencing fatigue and burnout.  

With fewer nurses and other healthcare workers in general, those remaining are responsible for more patients in a growing and ageing population that could raise the risk of medical errors and potential harm to patients. In the UAE and across the globe, the goal should be to improve patient outcomes and prevent errors that should never happen (commonly known as ‘never events’). 

Technology moves the quality of patient care forward  

To help improve patient outcomes, reduce preventable errors, strengthen decision support and provide stronger healthcare protocols, hospitals will need to continue leveraging technology. Ninety-five per cent of IT decision-makers surveyed in the Zebra Global Healthcare Vision Study said they expect to increase spending in healthcare IT and clinical mobility, with eight out of 10 emphasising improvements gained in reducing preventable medical errors.  

Thomas Duparque, Healthcare Manager EMEA at Zebra Technologies. 

More than half of the respondents in the study agreed that technology could help improve medication tracking, patient throughput and nursing workflows. Additionally, eight in 10 said that patient care would also improve if nurses, clinicians and non-clinical workers had collaboration tools and healthcare applications.  

But technology can also be implemented beyond the bedside or exam room and put the control right into patients’ hands digitally, while removing burdens from clinicians and providing better outcomes for everyone. For example, the Dubai Health Authority (DHA) run the ‘Doctor for Every Citizen’ service, giving people access to free consultations through voice and video calls, 24/7. The service covers initial consultation and follow-ups with DHA-certified physicians. The physician can request laboratory and radiology tests and issue electronic prescriptions.  

The Department of Health (DOH) Abu Dhabi launched the DOH RemoteCare app that allows  people to access healthcare in their own homes, without visiting a hospital or clinic physically. The smartphone app has tools for examining symptoms, diagnosing non-emergency cases, booking appointments and attending teleconsultations with doctors via voice, video calls, or text messages. 

Will UAE healthcare go digital? 

The UAE is ready and open to adopting digital technology in healthcare. According to a 2022 McKinsey survey, the UAE could use digital health solutions to benefit patients and improve outcomes. After all, smartphone penetration rates in the UAE and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia are among the world’s highest, estimated at 93 per cent, says the same report. Why not expand digitised services to healthcare?  

McKinsey’s findings revealed high levels of interest and awareness among UAE respondents in digital healthcare technologies. These solutions could benefit patient outcomes from chronic disease management to diagnostics and preventative care. McKinsey estimates the digital health market in the UAE (combined with the KSA) could hit US$4 billion by 2026.  

While most consumers in the UAE have never used digital health applications, affinity is high among users of existing solutions, predominantly for their convenience and time savings, says McKinsey. The goal of digital health services in the Middle East is to improve patient outcomes by developing digital health capabilities that align with consumer needs and preferences. Ideally, digital health apps should be able to integrate and/or share data directly with a user’s doctor, bringing a patient’s digital healthcare full circle.  

Similarly, enterprise-grade mobile devices like handheld computers and healthcare tablets can offer doctors and nurses the visibility and connectedness they need to ensure seamless, real-time patient care while avoiding the pitfalls of using consumer devices in healthcare settings.   

Expect more tech 

While we are entering a new era of healthcare technology, both in the hands of doctors and nurses in healthcare settings and on consumers’ smartphones, we are also experiencing new tech expectations from patients. In the age of smartphones and smart homes, it is not surprising that consumers would also expect smart healthcare and smart Hospital.  

Most clinicians (83 per cent) and healthcare decision-makers (88 per cent) in Zebra’s study say that patients expect increased visibility in their treatment plans and more control over their care (and this is precisely where digital healthcare fits in). 

Technology will only continue to benefit patient care and outcomes in healthcare. Transformational tech trends that enable better remote care are leading the way from telehealth to patient tracking devices and real-time health platforms. And the majority of healthcare clinicians and decision-makers agree the quality of patient care would improve if nurses, clinicians and non-clinician support all had access to mobility and healthcare applications.  

It is no longer a question of ‘if’ technology will continue to positively impact healthcare outcomes in the UAE and across the globe — the expectation is more technology and faster. 

References available on request. 

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Thomas Duparque is the Healthcare Manager EMEA at Zebra Technologies. 

This article appears in the latest issue of Omnia Health Magazine. Read the full issue online today.

 

Back to Technology

Cancer is one of the leading causes of death worldwide, accounting for nearly 10 million deaths, or nearly one in six deaths, in 2020. Experts also predict that population growth and ageing will lead to a big increase in the number of people being diagnosed with cancer by 2040, which is estimated to increase to 30 million, a 47 per cent rise compared to 2020. At the same time, the number of cancer deaths is predicted to rise to 16 million.

The National Health Service (NHS) in the UK has nearly 75 years’ experience as an integrated healthcare system in responding to the cancer challenge and is available free to all citizens – and has set new standards that will help diagnose more cancers earlier and save more lives. But like all systems, it faces major challenges which demand constant innovation.

These challenges span changes in the nature and prevalence of disease and the rapid growth of older populations. Meanwhile, healthcare is being driven by a revolution in innovative technologies such as digital health, robotics, precision medicine and the Internet of Things, which are already having a great impact on patient care. The global digital health market is expected to grow by around 30 per cent annually over the next 10 years; at the same time, the precision medicine and IoT markets are expected to see a tenfold increase, and the surgical robotics market is expected to expand fivefold over five years.

Faced with rising demand, spiralling costs, gaps in workforce and increased public expectations, health systems must innovate. The NHS has developed a system that encourages cutting-edge research and imaginative solutions to translate into real patient care. For example, Genomics England’s Cancer 2.0 programme is exploring long-read sequencing technology and multimodal data to support earlier, faster diagnosis of cancer; and Manchester’s iMatch consortium of NHS, University and industry partners is identifying new advanced therapies for cancer treatment.

Diagnosing cancer earlier is one of the biggest actions the NHS can take to improve cancer survival — and this is vital to improving outcomes. Today, it is accelerating the uptake of the latest technologies and newest approaches to achieve this ambitious target.

So what do these cancer innovations look like?

Some of the most exciting innovations are in the diagnosis and treatment of cancer. Many NHS hospitals such as Leeds Teaching NHS Trust have found that digitally enabled pathology speeds up diagnosis. Others, such as The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust, have used combinations, e.g., of MRI scans and targeted biopsies to speed up the diagnosis of prostate cancer to no more than 10 days. Some have embedded patient-supplied data into their care pathway, reducing the need for outpatient appointments and the wait time for patients to access diagnostic tests.

New, more accessible rapid diagnostic centres have made diagnosis faster, and genetic testing hubs such as the Royal Marsden’s bring novel testing to patients to get them diagnosed quicker. Alder Hey Children’s NHS Foundation Trust is driving down missed appointments by creating a virtual radiology department, an interactive 3D world that allows children to familiarise themselves with the sights and sounds they will experience prior to treatment.

In treatment, NHS innovation is also seen in a wide array of new surgical techniques and world-first procedures. For example, the use of AI to detect early signs of oesophageal cancer through a new non-invasive procedure at University College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and pioneering robotic surgery for bowel cancer carried out at The Christie NHS Foundation Trust. In December last year, Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Foundation Trust announced the successful use of base edited T-cell treatment for “incurable” leukaemia, making it the first of its kind in the world.

Meanwhile, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has been evaluating and approving new treatments, most recently for lung, gastroesophageal, skin and triple negative breast cancers. But it is not only in hospital settings that innovation can be seen.

Helping people identify if they are at risk of disease gives the best opportunity to prevent ill health, as deployed successfully by the NHS in its Help Us, Help You campaign, a major drive to increase early diagnosis of cancers in primary care, offering a cancer toolkit to support detection in family medicine.

When patients leave hospital, it looks at how can relapse be prevented, or patients at risk are monitored effectively in the community to enable early interventions. Remote monitoring connected to smart devices and applications can alert clinicians to those most in need of follow up, as seen in Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust’s automated decision system for surveillance endoscopies and the Royal Marsden’s use of genomics for disease monitoring.

The UK’s leading NHS hospitals want to work with overseas healthcare partners to share these exciting ideas and solutions, having over 70 years’ experience of innovation using research based clinical pathways, the most advanced science and excellent training, equipment and digital systems to improve cancer outcomes.

Collaborate with the UK

The UK is relentlessly focused on harnessing our world-class science, data and research ecosystem, and the latest technology, to the cause of driving earlier diagnosis and improving outcomes for cancer patients.

The UK Government attended Arab Health 2023 in Dubai and we showcased how British innovations can tackle some of today’s most pressing challenges. One of our ambitions is to share our learnings and debate these key issues, and the role this is playing in defining the future of healthcare. We discussed some of the healthcare problems of our generation, including cancer, in our UK seminars.

Our session, ‘Innovation in Cancer Services – putting the patient first’, brought together leading experts to highlight how the UK and UAE are meeting the challenges of cancer care and to demonstrate the impact of innovation from both countries. It looked at cancer prevention, diagnostics, treatment and care and how innovation is promoted and developed, especially in the use of genetics services and AI technologies in cancer diagnosis and treatment.

Chris Born is a Healthcare Specialist at Healthcare UK Department for International Trade.

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This article appears in Arab Health Daily Dose 2023. Read the full issue online today.

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Early detection and prevention of disease is one of the most critical steps in limiting the number of female mortalities across the world. The UAE in particular has worked to continuously improve women’s healthcare through screenings and preventative campaigns for genetic and non-genetic diseases.

Historically, global medical data on women’s health has been limited, leading to poor treatment outcomes for female patients. One of the gaps in women's health is in relation to reproductive health, which affects the childbearing ability of women across the world and their general quality of life. These gaps, which are typically avoidable, could lead to serious health issues, treatment inconsistencies and dangerous practices.

Preventative screenings intend to detect diseases before they become life-threatening. Yet, thousands of women suffer from preventable conditions, which if detected during its early stages, could have been treated effectively without any major disruptions to daily life. But, due to lack of awareness and education, women often discover their condition when it is long established, thus requiring more intensive treatments to tackle the disease.

Dr. Suzan Eltayeb, Obstetrics & Gynecology Specialist at Danat Al Emarat Hospital for Women & Children said: “Preventive screenings are crucial and are one of the most important health measures individuals can take to prevent the escalation of serious inherited or contracted diseases.

“Screenings allow physicians to diagnose the disease early and start treatment promptly, if required. Since most diseases are often diagnosed in the late stages, the treatment options for patients are limited, and are often more invasive or expensive. We encourage all our patients who come to Danat Al Emarat Hospital for Women & Children to undergo routine screenings and to remain vigilant about maintaining optimal health,” continued Dr. Eltayeb.

Dr. Suzan Eltayeb

Ideally, women should continue visiting their family physician, obstetrician, or gynaecologist for routine check-ups even if they have no particular medical concerns. During their visits, physicians can review family history and ask the patient to consider undergoing testing, which may potentially help screen for diseases and conditions to which they are susceptible.

“Women, when they pass certain milestones, are more susceptible to certain diseases regardless of how well they maintain their health. Therefore, it is absolutely essential for women to speak with their physician to see which screenings they are advised to undertake,” said Dr. Eltayeb.

Often prescribed tests include the pap smear test, human papilloma virus (HPV) test, mammogram, colonoscopy, diabetes screening, cholesterol test, blood pressure check, skin cancer check and the bone density test. These tests help doctors detect diseases earlier; often when they are easier to treat.

Dr. Eltayeb continued, “We have a responsibility towards raising awareness around women’s health and the importance of seeking help. Time is the most critical factor; therefore, we urge all peers to continue encouraging patients to consider routine testing to improve health outcomes and avoid potential complications that could escalate.”

Women in the UAE, much like women across the globe, are subject to developing communicable and non-communicable diseases like cervical cancer, breast cancer and diabetes. This is influenced by several factors, some of which can be controlled, others that cannot. While not all conditions are preventable, female health and preventative screenings need to be prioritized for the healthcare industry since it reduces insurance premiums, decreases the need for frequent medical interventions, and allows women to lead better lives.

References available on request

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