Transfer of Knowledge Critical to Strengthen UAE Healthcare Sector

ABU DHABI — Education, transfer of knowledge and expertise are the keys to strengthening the healthcare system in the UAE and the region, according to a health strategist.

By Olivia Olarte

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Published: Thu 30 Apr 2009, 10:18 PM

Last updated: Mon 6 Apr 2015, 1:25 AM

“The healthcare system in the UAE is one of the best around the world; what we need is to generate confidence among the UAE nationals and expatriates to make use of the system,” said Kerry Gilzene, Head of Strategy and Corporate Development for Santeum Partners, a London-based health strategy and research organisation.

He was speaking at the launch of the first ever Abu Dhabi-GCC Health and Development Investment Forum, to be held on May 11 and May 12 at the Emirates Centre for Strategic Studies and Research (ECSSR).

“This forum will make a critical contribution to our knowledge-base, policy development, local capacity building and research in a sector vital to the economic and social well being of the UAE and the Gulf region,” said Dr Jamal Sanad Al-Suwaidi, Director Generalof ECSSR.

ECSSR has partnered with London-based, Santeum Partners and The National Investor (TNI) in bringing together a panel of world-leading experts from outside and within the UAE to raise the knowledge level and explore plans to bring about the right kind of healthcare strategies for the region.

Citing the swine flu pandemic in Mexico, Gilzene stressed the importance of having the knowledge, research and plan to deal with similar situations. “This is an opportune time for experts from around the world to come together to explore health strategies and bring global awareness and expertise into the UAE,” said Gilzene.

At the forum, TNI will identify investment opportunity areas within the healthcare sector. “Despite the very high-quality of hospitals, many nationals and expats still prefer to go to Europe for treatment,” said Yahya Jalil, Head of Private Equity of TNI.

“We want to identify areas for investment to improve the level of services in the UAE and in Abu Dhabi in particular, to the level where nationals and expats feel very comfortable getting treatment here,” he added.

olivia@khaleejtimes.ae


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