His Excellency Dr. Yousif Mohammed Al-Serkal, Director General of Emirates Health Services (EHS), asserted that EHS is working to accomplish ambitious healthcare goals, implement international best practices, and keep pace with the UAE’s strategic directions to enhance the health sector’s readiness and build a healthy community that enjoys a high quality of life.
H.E. Al-Serkal made the statement as EHS launched its Innovation Strategy 2023-2026, while taking part in the Arab Health Exhibition & Congress (Arab Health 2023), which kicked off on 30 January and continues until 2 February at the Dubai World Trade Centre.
“The Innovation Strategy 2023-2026 is a roadmap for moving forward, better embodying the vision and aspirations of our wise leadership, and achieving our goals to enhance the sustainability of the future healthcare sector,” H.E. explained. “This, in turn, empowers the industry to make greater contributions towards achieving the National Strategy for Wellbeing 2031, the ‘We the UAE 2031’ national vision, and ultimately, the “UAE Centennial 2071” Plan, which envisions a sustainable healthcare sector”, H.E. added.
For her part, Dr. Kalthoom Al Blooshi, Chief Innovation Officer, Director of Training and Development Center at EHS, noted: “The strategy aims to promote healthy lifestyles and quality of life within the various segments of the community, by developing public, preventative, and mental health programmes, in addition to launching comprehensive and integrated health and treatment services that are in line with best medical and digital health practices. It also strives to promote innovative practices that are rooted in flexibility, proactivity, and readiness, in addition to building and managing strategic partnerships, developing capabilities, raising the quality of services, and achieving financial efficiency and global competitiveness, in line with national strategies and projects for the health sector.”
The strategy outlines a set of objectives that EHS intends to achieve, such as enhancing the sustainability of health-related innovations by investing in health systems and building up economic resilience. Another goal is to develop the health economy by advancing healthcare services and programmes, and increasing the return on investment through innovative solutions. Furthermore, it is essential to establish an innovation-friendly corporate environment, strengthen internal capabilities, and streamline innovation practices.
The strategy also aims to adopt pilot projects by developing experimental models, applying innovations and expanding their impact, strengthening partnerships to develop health innovation, and building strong support for healthcare startups. The innovation strategy is based on six main pillars, namely, proactive thinking, creating opportunities, collaboration, continuity and change, focus on customers, and focus on entrepreneurship.
At this year’s edition of the Arab Health Exhibition & Congress, Emirates Health Services announced a bundle of smart health projects, programmes, and applications, in addition to organising a series of “roundtable” panel discussions and concluding several agreements with local and international institutions.
EHS is guided by a clear vision to be a leader in providing distinguished healthcare services that keep pace with the UAE’s vision and align with international standards. The EHS’s mission is to establish a sustainable, integrated, effective, and innovative system of health services that is available to all members of the Emirati community, as well as visitors.