The Department of Health - Abu Dhabi (DoH) has collaborated with science-led biopharmaceutical company AstraZeneca to strengthen research and development in the field of health sciences. A Declaration of Collaboration was signed between Dr. Jamal Mohammed Al Kaabi, Under-Secretary of DoH and Dr. Pelin Incesu, Area Vice President, Middle East and Africa at AstraZeneca in presence of Abdulla Bin Mohamed Al Hamed, Chairman of DoH, and Patrick Moody, UK Ambassador to the UAE to facilitate the deal.

The collaboration between DoH and AstraZeneca is aimed at enhancing innovation in the health sciences sector in line with the objectives of the DoH to boost accessibility to quality health services for patients.

As part of the collaboration, both sides will focus on a set of pillars, including developing and reinforcing clinical research activities as well as instituting a digital health ecosystem in Abu Dhabi. It will further lead, drive and support the creation of innovative solutions to effectively address local and regional healthcare requirements of patients.

Speaking about the collaboration, Dr. Al Kaabi expressed delight in joining hands with AstraZeneca to further strengthen the provision of quality healthcare services across the emirate.

“Driven by the wise direction and vision of our leadership, we are dedicated to enhancing healthcare outcomes, while leveraging the Emirate’s advanced infrastructure in technology and scientific research,” he added.

Al Kaabi affirmed to encourage foreign investments and collaboration to foster an attractive environment in the emirate for global partners with the aim of safeguarding the health and wellbeing of all community members.

Sameh El Fangary, Country President GCC and Pakistan, AstraZeneca, added that this strategic partnership will help in driving increased growth in Abu Dhabi's healthcare sector.

“There is no doubt that innovation in healthcare is transforming how we develop and deliver life-changing medicines. Local clinical trials and digital health will, together with the Abu Dhabi authorities, help bring a more patient-centric healthcare ecosystem to the country,” El Fangary said.

As per reports, this partnership focuses on developing investment interests among partners to boost clinical research in health sciences in the Emirate. Clinical research will include in-depth analysis of a number of diseases such as type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and chronic kidney diseases (CKD).

It will also cater to various observational studies with the aim of gaining real world studies on patients taking AstraZeneca’s long-acting antibody (LAAB) combination for COVID-19.

In addition, DoH and AstraZeneca will be working on developing a comprehensive healthcare digital application to provide important educational and informative details to all patients in the Emirate. Moreover, the two sides will be installing digital disease management facilities and amplifying the reach of the ecosystem to ensure more participation from other partners.

The collaboration will also facilitate discussions between partners across various local and global platforms about the need to improve health sciences. At the same time, it will extend the participation from AstraZeneca, Hope Consortium and senior executives from other entities across the world. 

WAM