MoHAP Conducts Workshop To Develop Plan For Health Research Centres Of Excellence In The UAE

The Ministry of Health and Prevention (MoHAP) recently held a workshop to plan the creation of health research centres of excellence across the UAE. This event gathered representatives from various health and government sectors, academic institutions, and experts from Monash University in Australia. The aim was to harness the skills and knowledge of stakeholders to develop initiatives that will boost health research performance nationwide.

Dr. Mohammed Salim Al Olama, Under-Secretary of MoHAP, highlighted the Ministry's dedication to establishing a sustainable, world-class health research ecosystem. This commitment involves strategies and projects designed to accelerate growth in the UAE's health research sector using unified policies tailored to national needs. "In collaboration with local and international strategic partners, the Ministry aims to enhance research coordination mechanisms by establishing centres of excellence," Al Olama stated.

The workshop aligns with MoHAP's strategic vision for health research launched in 2021. It is part of ongoing initiatives by the National Centre for Health Research aimed at building a sustainable national ecosystem for health research. This ecosystem is intended to be flexible, aligned with UAE government visions, and adhere to top international standards.

Abdullah Ahmed Ahli, Acting Assistant Under-Secretary for the Support Services Sector at MoHAP, inaugurated the workshop. He described it as a significant step towards creating centres of excellence in health research and fostering sustainable cooperation among relevant authorities in the country. The event also allowed experts to exchange ideas on enhancing national skills in health research.

Dr. Khalil Qayed, Director of the National Centre for Health Research at MoHAP, emphasised developing a strategy focused on diverse research priorities in the UAE. "This initiative aims to leverage national research resources and capabilities to build an integrated research ecosystem that improves the quality of healthcare in the UAE," Dr. Qayed explained.

The workshop provided a platform for sharing knowledge about establishing these centres of excellence. Dr. Qayed noted that these centres are structured around core objectives: improving healthcare through informed decision-making and fostering innovations to tackle ongoing and emerging health challenges.

Building Expertise through Collaboration

The workshop also focused on promoting collaboration between institutions and enhancing health services through innovation. Abdullah Ahli mentioned that it offered valuable opportunities for specialists to discuss how best to coordinate efforts in developing national capabilities in health research.

These centres are seen as strategic investments in public health's future, strengthening competitive advantages while building a resilient health ecosystem capable of addressing future challenges based on national research outcomes.

The Ministry's efforts aim at not only fostering collaboration but also improving healthcare services through innovative solutions driven by comprehensive research methodologies tailored specifically for national needs.

With inputs from WAM