The Department of Health – Abu Dhabi (DoH), the regulator of the healthcare sector in the emirate, joined the A.Catalyst network as a result of the Declaration of Collaboration recently signed with AstraZeneca to attract and support start-ups globally.
The partnership highlights DoH’s commitment to enhancing digital healthcare in the emirate and improving patient experience and outcomes.
Witnessed by Abdulla bin Mohammed Al Hamed, Chairman of the Department of Health – Abu Dhabi (DoH), and Hicham Mirghani, Corporate Affairs Director, the agreement was signed by Dr. Asma Al Mannaei, Executive Director, Research and Innovation Centre at DoH, and Ghaleb Al Ahdab, Government Affairs Associate Director, Gulf at AstraZeneca, during the BIO International Convention 2022 between 13th and 16th June in San Diego, California, US.
An Abu Dhabi delegation is participating to showcase the domestic growth and economic development of Abu Dhabi’s biotechnology industry.
By joining hands with AstraZeneca’s A.Catalyst network, DoH will be able to leverage the network’s expertise which comprises of over 20 global health innovation hubs made up of physical locations and virtual partnerships. The network focuses on bringing innovation to disease awareness, diagnostics, treatment wellness, and well-being to create a more holistic patient experience.
In recent years, the department has announced that Abu Dhabi’s healthcare start-ups have generated an estimated economic impact of AED200 million. DoH’s efforts in supporting local and global start-ups, over the past two years, have resulted in the creation of more than 215 jobs in Abu Dhabi and have raised over AED160 million in funds.
Furthermore, DoH has been supporting start-ups to create an innovative healthcare ecosystem. A total of 16 percent of new start-ups have provided innovative solutions and ideas that helped improve financial efficiency in the healthcare sector. An additional 38 percent have contributed by introducing tools to maximise access to healthcare facilities. Moreover, an average of 46 percent of start-ups are focused on enhancing the quality of care across the various operations of the healthcare sector.
Dr. Asma Al Mannaei, Executive Director, Research and Innovation Centre at the Department of Health – Abu Dhabi (DoH), said, “Through this partnership, Abu Dhabi is further solidifying its position as a life sciences hub by focusing on healthcare innovation.”
The areas of collaboration between DoH and AstraZeneca include the development of an overall framework of the joint partnership between A.Catalyst and the Abu Dhabi innovation ecosystem to build a knowledge-based economy. The partnership will support in embedding an entrepreneurial mindset in the youth, building skills and capabilities to lead and spearhead the future of life sciences in Abu Dhabi and the world.
Hicham Mirghani, Corporate Affairs Director, AstraZeneca, highlighted, “AstraZeneca is a key strategic partner to the DoH, working jointly to develop a digital healthcare system and pushing efforts to innovate solutions in a variety of health fields such as diagnostics, devices, digital health, drug development, biotech, and pharmaceutical sectors, which together contribute to meeting the healthcare sector’s demand.”
Furthermore, the A.Catalyst network acts as a bridge that brings together diverse stakeholders to forge non-traditional partnerships across geographical boundaries.
Headed by Abdulla bin Mohammed Al Hamed, Chairman of the Department of Health – Abu Dhabi (DoH), a high-profile Abu Dhabi delegation comprising government officials is visiting the US this month to explore prospects of joint collaboration within the framework of healthcare at large and life science in specific.
The visit is expected to see meetings and agreement signings with leading partners to explore and activate collaborations in life science and real-world evidence, digital health, research and development, supply chain and many other areas.
The Abu Dhabi delegation to US has seven critical entities from Abu Dhabi’s healthcare sector including the Department of Health – Abu Dhabi (DoH), Abu Dhabi Investment Office (ADIO), Mubadala Health, G42, Abu Dhabi Ports, ADQ, Etihad Cargo and Pure Health.
Source: Emirates News Agency