Five Key Insights from the "Future-Proofing the Health of Nations" Panel Discussion
Last week, I had the privilege of moderating a thought-provoking panel discussion at the Museum of the Future, an institution that inspires creativity and innovation. Organized by WSBF, the panel centered on the theme "Future-Proofing the Health of Nations." I was thrilled when Merzi Sodawaterwala approached me to lead a panel of esteemed experts, including Ashish Ipe Koshy (CEO of G42 Healthcare) and Hicham MIRGHANI (Corporate Affairs Director GCC at AstraZeneca).
The conversation was rich and insightful, and I am delighted to share five key takeaways from our discussion:
1. Innovation drives community health improvements:
Ashish highlighted G42 Healthcare's focus on integrated solutions, such as data management, telemedicine, and genomic data. By harnessing these technologies, G42 aims to enhance population health and secure a healthier future for all. Ashish also mentioned M42 Health 's development, which enables G42 to collaborate with partners and adopt medical and data-centric innovations. Ashish gave a summary of their approach in the below video last year.
2. Technology adoption is critical to its effectiveness:
The COVID-19 pandemic has triggered a surge in digital health solutions, but their success hinges on their ability to be user-friendly and widely adopted. For instance, robotic surgery initially faced skepticism from both patients and surgeons, but its growing acceptance has led to its expansion. In Fakeeh University Hospital, adoption has always been the focus point and today, we are glad to see the high level of patient adoption to our smart solutions, like mobile app, patient infotainment, patient portal, online booking, whatsapp bot services and this model drives all our innovations in our group; Fakeeh Care Group. Rock Health 's recent study supports our approach.
3. Collaboration is essential for the future of healthcare:
Citing the strategic partnership between G42 and AstraZeneca to manufacture innovative drugs in Abu Dhabi, our panelists emphasized the importance of collaboration in improving public health. By pooling their global and local expertise, organizations can add value and shape the future of healthcare. You can read more about this collaboration at below link;
4. A healthy environment is crucial for public health:
Hicham discussed AstraZeneca's commitment to addressing the healthcare sector's carbon footprint, and recently I also wrote an article about how to green the Middle Eastern healthcare sector. We all know that the healthcare sector is responsible for 5% of global emissions. By partnering with local stakeholders, AstraZeneca aims to amplify its impact and create a healthier environment for all. We can see the progress report with from the below video.
5. Continued research and development will pave the way for a healthier future:
Ashish Koshy shared insights into G42's research projects, such as the pharma-genomic initiative, which aims to provide personalized medications through genomic sequencing and IDs. Hicham Mirghani highlighted AstraZeneca's efforts to understand the Middle East's healthcare needs and leverage global expertise to improve regional health outcomes.
Moderating the panel was a rewarding experience, and I was honored to engage with two outstanding professionals. As a physician, I am encouraged by the progress being made toward a healthier future. It is clear that collaboration and innovation will be essential to shaping the well-being of nations.
