The UAE Health Council has reaffirmed its commitment to transforming the nation's healthcare landscape through strategic, innovative, and community-driven initiatives, aligning with the goals of "We the UAE 2031" and the Year of the Community.
Chaired by Awad Saghir Al Ketbi, Director-General of the Dubai Health Authority, on behalf of Abdulrahman bin Mohamed Al Owais, Minister of Health and Prevention, the Council's latest meeting brought together key representatives from both the public and private sectors to review national healthcare achievements and shape the sector’s future direction.
Strategic Focus Areas
Council members emphasized the importance of developing a flexible, integrated, and future-ready health system that adheres to global standards, supports sustainability, and enhances quality of life. The focus is on launching projects that improve healthcare delivery, ensure service excellence, and promote wellness and preventive care across the community.
Among the key initiatives discussed were:
- The Health Cloud Project: A strategic move toward digitising healthcare systems for better data integration and service delivery.
- Unified Licensing for Health Professionals: A national system to streamline licensing across emirates and improve workforce mobility.
- Emirates Council for Accreditation of Healthcare Entities: An effort to establish a unified accreditation framework.
- National Centre for Epidemic Prevention: A proactive step to enhance the country’s epidemic preparedness and response capabilities.
- Health Professionals’ Journey Tracking Platform: Infrastructure for a fully integrated scholarship and professional development system is now complete, with further connections to relevant authorities underway.
Ethical Use of AI in Healthcare
The Council also addressed the development of regulatory standards for artificial intelligence in healthcare, ensuring its deployment is safe, ethical, and aligned with international best practices. This includes frameworks to guide the integration of AI technologies into diagnostics, treatment planning, and healthcare management systems.
Enhancing Health Legislation & Risk Management
Council members applauded the UAE's recent advancements in health legislation, particularly the Executive Regulations for Organ and Human Tissue Donation and Transplantation, and the endorsement of a national policy to combat health risks. This policy aims to:
- Improve health system efficiency
- Strengthen national readiness in prevention, response, and recovery
- Enhance capacity building through international partnerships and scientific research
A Unified Vision for Healthcare Sustainability
In line with its strategic mandate, the UAE Health Council continues to drive coordination between federal and local health authorities, as well as private stakeholders. It plays a critical role in formulating forward-looking policies, integrating sectoral efforts, and reinforcing the UAE’s position on global health competitiveness indices.
“We will continue to support initiatives that promote wellness and healthy lifestyles, while building a more cohesive and sustainable healthcare ecosystem,” the Council stated.
As the UAE moves toward a world-class, resilient, and inclusive healthcare system, the Health Council remains at the forefront—bridging innovation, regulation, and collaboration to meet the needs of future generations.
News Source: Emirates News Agency
