Over the past few years, we have witnessed unprecedented transformation of our healthcare system across the globe.
As this acceleration is witnessed in the Middle East, this technological advancement and innovation placement will affect the post-Covid-19 world as we know it.
As this transformation is often impacted by many factors such as our rapid population growth and emerging diseases, it has created a refreshed outlook at the sector and how we operate within it.
It has tested the resilience and strength of our health ecosystem, our organisation of knowledge, science, and technology – to help people live longer, healthier lives.
In the UAE, the government, along with private corporations, and healthcare providers had to band together, and re-approach patient care, to adapt and anticipate scientific innovation to deliver the impact that positive disruption can create, to continue to transform the healthcare sector in a challenging time like this, while helping our communities and economies.
This can be seen in the expected growth of the global telehealth and telemedicine, from an estimated $38.7 billion in 2020 to $191.7bn by 2025, due to increasing technology adoption in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic.
In the UAE, the Ministry of Health was already working with telecom operator Du to set up the region’s first virtual hospital to offer remote care to patients on a virtual basis via smart monitors or AI devices.
According to PwC, Artificial intelligence (AI), mobile apps, telemedicine, and other advances are creating a world in which preventive care is based on data, and is accessible anywhere, anytime.
Crafting initiatives that aid our communities in these difficult times
Laying the foundation for successful innovation is the most crucial step, with the main goal of streamlining work, optimising systems, improving patient outcomes, reducing human error, and lowering costs.
It is more important than ever to actively manage and craft innovation initiatives, consciously choosing to invest in the disruption of the status quo and remaining responsive during challenging times such as throughout the continuation of the pandemic in the region.
A testament to the UAE’s remarkable response to the Covid19 pandemic was its swift protective measures, including strict and effective lockdowns, thorough contact tracing, and diligent vaccination drives.
In the UAE, 100 percent of the population received one dose and 95.06 percent of the population are fully vaccinated.
In November 2021, the establishment of a Global Biomedical Industrial Centre in the UAE was announced in collaboration with the Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology and the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO).
It aims to develop high-tech medical equipment, facilitate the exchange of ideas and innovations in life science, provide a platform for healthcare data sharing and alleviate global disparities in access to medical supplies and innovation.
Pharmaceutical companies can play a significant role in supporting the burgeoning healthcare sector in the UAE by helping strengthen the doctor-patient relationship.
By supporting partnering hospitals to expand their virtual care capabilities for their patients and make more informed decisions, joint efforts can go a long way to reach the patient segments in most urgent need.
Innovative impact: when it is most needed, and crafting approaches that satisfy community needs
Accelerating the rate at which we revolutionise the healthcare sector is integral, since healthcare is currently driven by the tight timelines we are given to help contain spread of disease and enhance quality of life, such as with Covid-19.
Through navigating priorities of innovation at a time like this, the sector has been able to maximise efficiency and performance, improve diagnostic accuracy and timeliness, and optimise and standardise workflows, processes, and medical procedures.
Going forward, achieving true impact through innovation will involve a comprehensive approach, rooted in research and development and open social innovation.
The rapid development and deployment of healthcare innovations will continue to be critical in the post-pandemic world to keep up with the new patient and partner expectations, while adapting to the ever-digitising world.
Henrik Wulff, managing director, senior Bayer Representative and head of Pharmaceuticals at Bayer Middle East FZE.
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