The United Arab Emirates plans to connect health services across its emirates under a national framework that officials say would improve efficiency and support a broader shift toward preventive care.
Minister of Health and Prevention Ahmed bin Ali Al Sayegh outlined the plan at the Abu Dhabi Future Health Summit on Oct. 20. He said the country was reassessing how it delivers care, with greater attention to prevention and care tailored to individual health risks.
The national genome program has enrolled nearly 920,000 people, Al Sayegh said. Authorities are preparing health reports for participants who consented to receive their genetic findings. The reports are intended to identify potential risks and give participants measures to discuss with their doctors.
People identified as having a higher risk of certain diseases would receive individual prevention plans. A consultation with a primary care or family doctor could lead to further screening or examinations where needed, Al Sayegh said. He added that genetic findings would not mean every participant needs additional medical care.
Al Sayegh described the goal as increasing the number of years people live in good health, alongside life expectancy. Separately, he described Healthy UAE as a national approach to prevention that brings health providers, government bodies and other sectors into a public health strategy. He said it would address risks associated with daily habits and working conditions.
The proposed health framework follows a May 19 directive from President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan calling for an integrated healthcare system and a national insurance scheme for citizens across all emirates. The government said the directive aimed to make better use of healthcare resources and improve service efficiency.
Al Sayegh also announced plans for a national system to coordinate responses to health emergencies. Authorities plan to draw on an existing Abu Dhabi model as they develop the system over the next two years.
