24th edition of the Arab Hospitals Federation Forum kicks off in Abu Dhabi

25 Sep, 2023:

Through a strategic partnership between the Arab Hospitals Federation (AHF) and the Department of Health – Abu Dhabi (DoH), the regulator of the healthcare sector in the Emirate, the 24th edition of the annual Arab Hospitals Federation Forum has kicked off in Abu Dhabi today. Held on September 25 and 26, 2023 at the Conrad Abu Dhabi Hotel – Etihad Towers, this year’s edition is being organised under the theme of "Leading Tomorrow’s Healthcare: Sustainability, Transformation, Collaboration", and covers a wide range of topics, including the journey of Arab hospitals towards transformation, as well as sustainability, leadership, digital health, and innovation. 

In his opening speech, H.E. Mansoor Al Mansoori, Chairman of the Department of Health – Abu Dhabi (DoH) stated: “Today, the world is witnessing numerous changes and challenges, including pandemics, climate change, and crises. These issues necessitate collaborative efforts to construct sustainable and resilient healthcare systems capable of responding to emergencies and safeguarding the health and well-being of our communities. The global healthcare sector is currently undergoing an unprecedented transformation, driven by advancements in data collection and analysis, breakthroughs in life sciences research and innovation, and the integration of artificial intelligence. This represents an opportunity for collaboration to accelerate the future of healthcare, creating proactive and sustainable healthcare sectors.”

Alice Yammine Boueiz, Chief Executive Officer at Arab Hospitals Federation said: “The United Arab Emirates has been among the countries in the region that have made significant and strong investments in healthcare and has achieved a leading position in the Arab world, regionally and globally. It is recognised as one of the best and most advanced healthcare sectors. Through this forum, we once again declare our commitment to further enhance the concept of Arab healthcare integration and build strong partnerships with all stakeholders, especially with our strategic partner, the Department of Health – Abu Dhabi, with whom we take pride in working and collaborating, and we look forward to transferring their unique and valuable experiences to the entire Arab nation.”

The forum welcomed 350 visitors, along with 50 speakers from 12 countries around the world, including several Ministers of Health and officials from the UAE, Egypt, Kuwait, and Lebanon. The event is seeing their participation in numerous panel discussion sessions, sharing their ideas, insights, and experiences around the concept of health for all. The Arab Hospitals Federation also awarded a number of key personalities and institutions for their contributions towards advancing healthcare in the region.

The event also sees the participation of representatives from various Arab health authorities, including government officials, representatives of the League of Arab States (LAS), and key decision-makers from major institutions and international companies. Among the international delegations at the event are teams from Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, Egypt, Lebanon, Tunisia, Jordan, the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Belgium, India, and others. The delegations are represented by policymakers, directors of public and private hospitals, doctors, administrators, and workers in the healthcare sector. In addition to the conference, the forum includes a specialised exhibition that allows service providers to showcase their latest distinguished services in the healthcare sector. 

The forum is being held in cooperation with the League of Arab States, a number of Arab ministries of health, the World Health Organization Eastern Mediterranean Regional Office, the Executive Office of the Council of Arab Ministers of Health, the Department of Culture and Tourism - Abu Dhabi, the Abu Dhabi Convention and Exhibition Bureau, the Abu Dhabi Residents Office, the AmCham Abu Dhabi and the U.S.-U.A.E. Business Council, in addition to a number of medical and nursing unions in Arab countries and many Arab health organizations and associations, with the main support of the Q Holding and contributions from Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC), Viatris, and Johnson & Johnson, GE Healthcare, Heaps for Artificial Intelligence, Sheikh Shakhbout Medical City (SSMC), NMC Healthcare Group, Malaffi Health Information Exchange platform, Elegancia Healthcare in Qatar, Abbott and in media partnership with Arab Hospital Magazine.

To learn more about the forum, please visit https://medhealth2023.ahfonline.net/