MoHAP launches diverse innovation-based programs & initiatives in celebration of UAE Innovation Week

Dubai UAE

Sallam Sallam

In commemoration of the UAE Golden Jubilee and the UAE Innovation Week, which is being held under the slogan “UAE Innovates 2021”, from 21 to 27 February, the Ministry of Health and Prevention (MoHAP) has launched a series of events to stimulate innovative thinking and forward-looking visions in the healthcare field, boost the UAE’s competitiveness worldwide in the government innovation field, enhance the culture of innovation in the institutional work, and get the most out of the national creative and innovative competencies, thus strengthening the UAE’s position and leadership both regionally and globally in the innovation field.

The Ministry’s Innovation Strategy 2019 – 2021, which was launched under the theme “leadership in Innovation – Health System with International Standards”, constituted a key pillar in the ministry’s projects aimed at reinventing health services, establishing research centers, and creating local and international partnerships to improve the readiness of the health sector for confronting future pandemics and diseases.

In 2020, the Ministry has launched the “Innovate for Health” Award to create a competitive and innovative platform for Emirati citizens in the field of health and engage the entire society in the innovation environment. Also, the ministry has launched the “Future leaders Programme”, the first of its kind across the region, whose members are from the youth of the Ministry, as well as the public and private sector, and it aims to qualify youth leaders who can support the ministry’s transition to the future.

Future roadmap

His Excellency Dr. Youssif Al Serkal, Director-General of the Emirates Health Services Corporation and Chairman of the Innovation Committee, said: “The UAE is moving towards the next fifty years with determination, trust, and a future roadmap stemmed from the ambitious vision of the wise leadership to strengthen the UAE’s position as a pioneering global example of proactive confrontation to future challenges. This would help the country move steadily towards the Centennial 2071 armed with creativity and innovation in all fields of government work.

Al Serkal pointed to the UAE’s success in turning innovation into a culture of life and an administrative approach to develop government work and enhance sustainable development, thanks to the careful planning and the well-articulated strategies, noting that the Month of Innovation clearly reflects the UAE’s commitment to continue its endeavors in fostering its position on the global innovation map, in accordance with the pillars of the UAE National Innovation Strategy.

Sustainability of innovation

“Over the past years, our projects and initiatives clearly reflected the ministry’s aspirations to become an innovation-based sustainable institution, in accordance with the highest international levels. They are also part of the ministry’s keenness to stimulate innovation, research, and development, by supporting innovation and innovators in the health field and paying tribute to their achievements that support MoHAP’s efforts in developing full-fledged and integrated systems for the management of innovation and governance in health services,” he added.

Concluding his remarks, Al-Serkal expressed confidence that the Ministry will remain, as always, an attractive and incubating environment for creative thinking and innovations, in line with the directives and the firm belief of the wise leadership that innovation is the capital of the future towards exploring the future and building national capacities in the innovation field.

Debates on the role of youth in future of health

Also on MOHAP’s roster of events for the UAE Innovation Week this year is a discussion on the role youth can play in the growth and development of the healthcare sector in the UAE, which is organized in cooperation with the Entrepreneur Middle East magazine, featuring a panel discussion titled “Biz Health” and moderated by Saqr Alhemeiri, Director of Training & Development Center and Chief Innovation Officer. Speakers from Harvard University together with Dr. Sultan Ahmed Al-Sharif, Director of the MoHAP’s Visiting Consultants Office are taking part in this session.

Additionally, a series of webinars titled “Impact Health” will be held jointly with the Entrepreneur Middle East magazine to discuss the role of innovation now and in the future in shaping and impacting the future of healthcare at the global level. The talk will be focusing on the subject of “From the Human Genome Project to Precision Medicine: A Journey to Advance Human Health”

Digital Health Hackathon

The Health Ministry, together with the Entrepreneur Middle East magazine and BOLT, is organizing another virtual event through which the ministry is inviting developers, designers, marketers, nurses, doctors, students, and healthcare professionals from the UAE and beyond to work together on ideas and challenges that can shape the future of healthcare, specifically artificial intelligence (AI), personalized medicine, and the role of technology in improving access to healthcare. The top 3 winners will receive cash prizes of up to $ 10,000.

The ministry will also launch the “Afkari” public platform to encourage the public to share their creative ideas and thoughts on the development of the healthcare sector.