‘Honoring the Past, Celebrating the Present, and Shaping the Future’ is the theme for the 25th Arab Hospitals Federation Annual Forum, set for October 29-30, 2024, in Abu Dhabi, UAE. This prestigious event will bring together Arab health ministers and healthcare leaders to discuss key issues in the industry. MedEdge MEA recently spoke with AHF CEO Mrs Alice Yammine Boueiz, highlighting the significance and goals of this important gathering.

MedEdge MEA: What inspired the creation of the MedHealth forum, and what makes it unique compared to other healthcare conferences in the region?

Alice Yammine Boueiz: The Arab Hospitals Federation established MedHealth Forum to address the increasing need for collaboration and knowledge exchange among key healthcare stakeholders across the Arab world. The event has become a strategic platform where industry leaders, policymakers, healthcare professionals, and innovators come together to discuss regional healthcare challenges and explore cutting-edge solutions.

More than just the flagship event of the Federation, MedHealth Forum has earned a reputation as one of the most remarkable and successful healthcare events in the Arab region. It is specifically designed to promote constructive dialogue among healthcare actors and catalyze change through purposeful, curated engagements.

What sets the MedHealth Forum apart is its focus on creating unique opportunities for stakeholders to connect, collaborate, and explore partnerships across the healthcare continuum. It fosters interaction between CEOs, ministers, hospital leaders, innovators, and healthcare investors, providing an intimate yet expansive environment for strategic discussions.

A highlight of the forum is the AHF Recognition Awards, which honour notable personalities and organizations that have made significant contributions to healthcare in the region. These prestigious awards bring both regional and international recognition to the honorees.

Additionally, the forum offers innovative engagement opportunities, including field visits to distinguished healthcare facilities. These visits provide participants with real-world insights into healthcare operations, bringing the practical application of healthcare solutions to life.

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ME: What about this year’s edition of MedHealth Abu Dhabi 2024?

Alice: MedHealth Abu Dhabi 2024 is a special edition as it coincides with the AHF Silver Jubilee Celebration commemorating 25 years of contributions to healthcare in the Arab world. It will take place on 29-30 October 2024 at the Conrad Abu Dhabi-Etihad Towers under the patronage and in the presence of HE. Sheikh Nahayan Mabarak Al Nahayan – Cabinet Member, Minister of Tolerance and Coexistence.

This edition is held with the strategic support of the Department of Health Abu Dhabi,  with the support of the Department of Culture and Tourism Abu Dhabi, the Abu Dhabi Convention and Exhibition Bureau, Egypt Healthcare Authority,  Unified Procurement Authority, General Authority for Healthcare Accreditation and Regulation, in collaboration with AmCham Abu Dhabi and US UAE Business Council, as well as various healthcare, medical, and nursing organizations and associations across Arab countries.

MedHealth Abu Dhabi receives vital support from key partners, including PureHealth as Strategic Premium Partner, Hamad Medical Corporation in Qatar and  Apex Health as Strategic Partner, Viatris as an associate partner, Sheikh Shakhbout Medical City, Ambulatory Healthcare Services, PureLab, Rafed, Sakina and Seha as Supporting partners, Johnson & Johnson as Platinum Partner, Abbott, GE Healthcare, Malaffi and Intertec Systems as Silver Partners with MedEdge MEA, Middle East Health Magazine and Forbes Middle East as media partners.

ME: Can you share some of the key themes or topics that will be covered at MedHealth this year?

Alice: Through five discussion circles, the scientific agenda of MedHealth Abu Dhabi 2024 is very rich featuring a remarkable lineup of renowned personalities and experts discussing various topics.

The Ministerial Circle under the theme of “Advancing Healthcare by: Building Capacities, Building Collaboration, Building the Future” will revolve around enhancing healthcare systems through leadership development, fostering collaboration between public and private sectors, and preparing for the future with advanced technologies like AI and telemedicine

The Visionary Circle will explore how healthcare policies can increase resilience in the face of challenges such as pandemics and climate change. Key areas include leveraging innovation, ensuring supply chain stability, and promoting value-based care

Having for topic Opening Borders, Enhancing Collaboration for Health Tourism, the Hospital CEO Circle will delve into advancing the health tourism sector by fostering collaboration, improving patient experiences, and exploring the role of technologies.

The Healthcare Disruptors Circle focusing on Driving Digital Transformation and Innovation with Stakeholders will address the impact of digital transformation and AI on patient care, operational efficiency, and healthcare outcomes, emphasizing collaboration across stakeholders

The last circle will shed light on success stories of the winners in the Gold Initiative Certificate for Patient Safety and I’m privileged as AHF CEO to have an inspirational note in this circle.

ME: Who are some of the prominent speakers or experts that attendees can look forward to hearing from during the event?

Alice: MedHealth Abu Dhabi 2024 will feature a distinguished lineup of healthcare leaders, policymakers, and innovators who will share their expertise, success stories and solutions with the attendees and inspire them to drive positive change in the healthcare field.

We have the honour of welcoming esteemed ministers HE. Sheikh Nahayan Mabarak Al Nahayan – Cabinet Member, Minister of Tolerance and Coexistence, UAE, HE. Dr. Khaled Abdel Ghaffar – Deputy Prime Minister for Human Development Affairs and Minister of Health and Population in Egypt, HE. Dr. Jaleela bint Alsayed Jawad Hasan – Minister of Health, Bahrain, HE. Dr. Hanan Balkhy – Regional Director, World Health Organization (WHO) EMRO. In addition, the forum will gather heads of healthcare authorities in Egypt, Representatives of the Ministry of Health in UAE, KSA and Qatar without forgetting key decision makers from reputable healthcare facilities, pharmaceutical, medical devices and tech companies. 

The 48 experts represent a broad spectrum of healthcare leadership and innovation, promising valuable insights on the future of healthcare in the Arab countries.

ME: What are the main goals or outcomes you hope to achieve with MedHealth in Abu Dhabi? How do you see it influencing healthcare in the region?

Alice: MedHealth Abu Dhabi 2024 aims to drive innovation, collaboration, and sustainable growth in healthcare by fostering partnerships across the healthcare ecosystem, including public-private collaborations and cross-border initiatives. The event focuses on advancing healthcare innovation through AI, telemedicine, and electronic health records while promoting a shift from volume-based to value-based care that prioritizes patient outcomes and long-term sustainability. Additionally, it seeks to enhance healthcare resilience by addressing regional capacity needs and improving system readiness for global challenges like pandemics. MedHealth also emphasizes improving healthcare accessibility and equity, especially in underserved areas, and will celebrate healthcare excellence through the AHF Silver Jubilee Celebration and awards recognizing leaders in the healthcare sector.

MedHealth Abu Dhabi 2024 is poised to influence the healthcare landscape in the Arab countries by advancing key conversations, strategies, and technologies that will define the future of healthcare in the region. The forum will accelerate digital health adoption by encouraging hospitals to embrace innovations like AI, telemedicine, and data-driven healthcare, enhancing both efficiency and care quality. It will also provide a platform for health ministers and leaders to discuss policies that support sustainable healthcare growth. By fostering regional collaboration and promoting health tourism, the event aims to integrate healthcare services across Arab countries. Additionally, it will prioritize patient-centered care through value-based models that focus on personalized care, patient outcomes, and safety initiatives.

ME: During the opening ceremony, the AHF will distribute recognition awards and the Gold initiative certificates. Can you elaborate more on this?

Alice: On the Occasion of the AHF Silver Jubilee, the Arab Hospitals Federation will honour influential individuals and exceptional entities that have made significant efforts in advancing the Arab healthcare sector and who supported its journey over the previous years and we are privileged that HE. Sheikh Nahayan Mabarak Al Nahayan – Cabinet Member and Minister of Tolerance and Coexistence in UAE will be awarding these personalities. 

In addition to that, during the opening ceremony, there will be distribution of the certificates to the winners of the Gold Initiative Certificate “Patient Safety Champions” where we will have 31 winners recognized for their dedication and efforts in advancing patient safety in various field.

ME: What other activities are planned on the second day of the event ?

Alice: On 30 October, the program includes a special field visit to Sheikh Shakhbout Medical City under the theme of: “Our Hospitals, Our Pride: Celebrating Excellence of our Members.”

Through this activity, we aim to shine a spotlight on the outstanding contributions of our members and allow delegates to explore one of the region’s most advanced medical centers, where cutting-edge technology meets exceptional patient care. It will provide them with firsthand insight into the pioneering role of our healthcare facilities in shaping the future of healthcare and its significant contributions to driving innovation, clinical excellence, and sustainable healthcare solutions.

ME: Finally, we understand that you have a slogan for the Silver Jubilee celebration. Could you share more details about it?

Alice: Our Slogan for this Celebration #makeithistoric. Together we will make it. The slogan #MakeItHistoric is dedicated to the Silver Jubilee celebration of the Arab Hospitals Federation and captures the essence of this remarkable milestone, not only marking 25 years of achievements but also setting the stage for a transformative future.

The term “historic” reflects the Federation’s enduring legacy, shaped by visionary leadership, collaboration, and relentless dedication to advancing healthcare across the Arab world.

Over the past 25 years, we have witnessed groundbreaking developments in healthcare policies, infrastructure, and innovation, and have actively driven initiatives that continue to impact the well-being of millions.

By coming together and reflecting on our past while pushing forward to a more innovative, resilient, and accessible healthcare system, we can Make It Historic for generations to come. It emphasizes our shared responsibility to build on this strong federation and make the future of healthcare just as remarkable. So, Let’s make it Historic Together.