Dubai: Pfizer, in collaboration with the Arab International Women Forum (AIWF), has released the ‘DEI by Design’ report, delivering insights and recommendations on how women’s leadership can transform healthcare outcomes in the MENA (Middle East and North Africa) region. The report emerged from a virtual panel series that featured prominent medical practitioners and health science professionals from the region, examining topics like mentorship, hospital strategies, and diversity in clinical trials.
The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the critical role of women in healthcare leadership while amplifying gender disparities. It also unveiled opportunities to address these disparities, particularly as 90% of frontline health workers in the region are women.
The report presents several recommendations to uplift women in healthcare, including addressing acute health and mental health challenges in conflict-ridden countries and incorporating women’s voices into decision-making processes to humanize medical provisions for refugees. It emphasizes the importance of facilitating a robust research culture within the region, advocating for enhanced collaboration between health authorities, hospitals, and universities to establish organized frameworks for clinical trials in MENA.
AIWF President and Founder Dr. Haifa Al Kaylani shared, “AIWF is delighted to share this very special report, the culmination of months of collaborative effort with our valued partners at Pfizer and with the women leaders in health who contributed to the series and to the rich discussions captured within our joint report with Pfizer. We believe that the recommendations delivered by the ‘DEI by Design’ series will pave the way for tangible change in, ensuring that women at every level of MENA healthcare – from grassroots workers to senior executive leadership – are empowered, recognised, and celebrated for their growing role at the forefront of health innovation, research and discovery.”
Adding, “Together with Pfizer, we are proud to provide this roadmap to a future where women’s contributions to health are elevated and fully realised. We invite stakeholders across all sectors to delve into this report, be inspired by its findings, and join us in enacting meaningful change.”
Pfizer Regional President Middle East, Russia and Africa (MERA) Patrick van der Loo also shared, “This report unearths critical recommendations to ensure that women and their insights are represented in the healthcare sector. At Pfizer, we believe in listening to every voice to create scientific breakthroughs for patients. Our partnership with AIWF is a great step in bringing together health experts and women on the ground to mobilize organizations and governments to embed diversity in the region’s health ecosystem.”
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For over a decade, Pfizer has been a Platinum Corporate Partner of the Arab International Women’s Forum, a prominent development organization with a strong presence in the MENA region. This partnership aligns with the global recognition of women’s invaluable contributions to healthcare, spotlighting the significance of working collaboratively to address gender disparities and encouraging women’s voices in the healthcare landscape.
