Good news for UAE residents: A pill to keep you healthy for life

Dubai - Do you know what it takes to make one single pill? Looks pretty simple but it is a long arduous process that takes 14 years of breakthrough and setbacks.

A happy nation equals a healthy population. And that needs a healthy lifestyle which does not only being physically active and eating the right food, but also means taking the right medication, the right dose and adhering to treatments.
Do you know what it takes to make one single pill? Looks pretty simple but it is a long arduous process that takes 14 years of breakthrough and setbacks. And 5,000 researched compounds, 500,000 lab tests, 1,600 scientists and 8,500 patient volunteers, explained Dr Zeydan Abuissa, country manager and Pfizer Essential Health Lead, Gulf and Levant, at the Innovation Live! Summit titled "Innovation for a Healthier UAE".
Emphasising innovation as the essential ingredient in creating a healthier, happier UAE, a panel discussion saw Dr Abuissa and Tom Woolf, head coach, Nike Middle East, discuss the innovative approaches available to the healthcare industry and the public to better manage people's lifestyles and disease for a healthier, happier life.
Dr Abuissa explained how bringing a medicine to life is no different to any other process of creation. It requires innovation, imagination and relentless perseverance.
A vital outcome of the discussion was that innovation is critical in all industries, but innovation in health means the one to improve people's lives. As lifestyle-related diseases become increasingly prevalent and more complex, it is essential to innovate to keep up with the pace of change.
The panel also stated that the UAE Vision 2021 National Agenda aims to achieve a world-class healthcare system in part by reducing lifestyle-related diseases such as diabetes and cardiovascular disease, and this can be achieved through preventive measures and medicine. This will ensure longer, healthier and happier lives for people across communities and will result in the UAE ranking among the best in the world in terms of the quality of our healthcare.
Tom Woolf explained how the convergence of new consumer technology, greater health education and a disease-prevention mindset can help people better manage their health and disease.
"Wellbeing is becoming a higher priority as people become more informed about how their lifestyles can impact their health. Here in the UAE, people are eager to adopt new consumer technologies that enable them to better quantify and manage their lifestyle and health - a good example is wearable technology," Woolf said.
The panel noted that people already diagnosed with a chronic illness can also use consumer technology to support them in managing their disease by, for example, using automated reminders about visiting their doctor or supporting them to adhere to their medication.
The summit is the anchor event for UAE Innovation Week 2016, a celebration of innovation for everyone in the UAE, in line with the directives of His Highness Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai.
What it takes to make one pill:
> 14 years
> 5,000 researched compounds
> 500,000 lab tests
> 1,600 scientists
> 8,500 patient volunteers
 saman@khaleejtimes.com