Abu Dhabi’s Department of Health (DoH) has partnered with Israel’s Clalit Health Services, the largest of the country’s four state-mandated health service organisations, it has been announced. This comes as part of both parties’ strategies to increase cooperation and the exchange of information between the healthcare sectors of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Israel.

According to a statement released by the DoH, the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) “will form the basis for a definitive medical cooperation between the parties to support and strengthen the implementation of various plans – including, but not limited to – digital health initiatives related to artificial intelligence, visiting doctors’ programme, professional education, international patient care referrals, research, and clinical trials.”

THE LARGER CONTEXT

With the UAE capital’s mission to become a leading life science hub and medical tourism destination, it is believed that this partnership will facilitate expertise transfer to UAE medical specialists through both a Visiting Doctor Programme and telemedicine sessions.

Additionally, the agreement will allow for the identification of new research products as well as participation and/or contribution to medical trials.

“We are strong believers in the importance of establishing robust partnerships with world-class healthcare institutions in a bid to strengthen Abu Dhabi’s healthcare sector. With the visionary drive of our leadership and the signing of Abraham Accords, this is becoming a reality,” said Sheikh Abdullah bin Mohammed Al Hamed, Chairman of DoH. “Pursuing partnerships with Israel’s advanced and high-quality healthcare institutions like Clalit Health Services not only allows us to improve healthcare outputs, research and digital initiatives but establish a strong platform for meaningful bilateral exchange of ideas, innovation and economic growth for both ecosystems.”

He added: “With the largest human genomic sequencing programme globally and one of the most comprehensive health information exchanges world-wide, Abu Dhabi has provided an attractive environment for international investors and entrepreneurs and interested in the future of health; establishing itself as a global leading hub for startups and leaders in technology, innovation and life science. 

“As digital health and genomics are becoming key elements in healthcare, we remain committed to implementing cutting-edge initiatives, partnerships and programmes that will undoubtedly accelerate the sector’s potential and improve its outcomes.”

ON THE RECORD

“I’m proud to lead the cooperation with the UAE, and to sign the first agreement of its kind, for promoting the health of our nations,” said Ehud Davidson, CEO at Clalit Health Services. “Over the past year, ever since the signing of the Abraham Accords for normalisation between Israel and the UAE, we initiated and conducted a dialogue from afar for promoting health and medicine. 

“I’m pleased that the agreement includes the fields of research and digital health, based on Clalit’s huge databases, and Clalit’s experience in translating the data for the purpose of research and innovation.”