MoHAP Hosts Workshop To Forge Future Health Research Strategy In UAE

The National Center of Health Research at the Ministry of Health and Prevention (MoHAP) recently organised a participatory workshop at its Dubai premises. The event saw collaboration with strategic partners from various health authorities and academic institutions across the UAE, as well as an advisory team from the Stanford Research Institute (SRI) in the United States.

The workshop aimed to enhance discussions for developing a national strategy for the future of health research. Dr. Salem Al Darmaki, Advisor to the Minister of Health and Prevention, inaugurated the event, which brought together experts and representatives from both government and private health sectors, along with professors and researchers from numerous academic institutions in the country.

Discussions during the workshop focused on assessing the current state of health research, its alignment with strategic goals, and forecasting future challenges and trends in this crucial sector. Panel discussions delved into setting research priorities and reviewing related policies and regulatory procedures.

Participants analysed the current situation in the country, evaluated scenarios related to the strategy, and prioritised them with the goal of updating the strategy to reflect the latest scientific and technological advances. The aim is to meet the long-term needs of society.

Commitment to Collaborative Efforts

Dr. Mohammed Salim Al Olama, Undersecretary of MoHAP, emphasised that MoHAP is committed to continuously consulting with its strategic partners from health and academic sectors. "We firmly believe that teamwork and constructive dialogue are the way forward to develop an ambitious health research strategy," he stated.

Al Olama noted that the new health research strategy focuses on future research approaches and incorporates benchmark comparisons with leading countries in the field. The strategy aims to enhance effective health policies across a broad spectrum of critical health issues, including chronic diseases, epidemics, technology applications, and modern medical innovations.

Boosting Cooperation and Knowledge Exchange

He reaffirmed that the UAE is committed to refining research strategies in the health sector and boosting cooperation and knowledge exchange with academic and health institutions, as well as the private sector, both regionally and globally.

Dr. Khalil Qayed, Director of the National Centre for Health Research at MoHAP, stated that workshops discussing the Future Foresight Strategy of health research aim to consolidate efforts and align perspectives across the UAE. The goal is to foster a culture of health research and create a scientifically stimulating environment that upholds international standards.

Supporting Health Research Centres

Dr. Qayed added that MoHAP operates within a cohesive framework to promote collaborative efforts, share experiences in research, and provide a nurturing environment for medical scientific research. The Ministry aims to devise sustainable solutions to health challenges in society by supporting existing health research centres and developing policies and research ethics guidelines.

Growth in Health Research Outputs

The Ministry recently published a report on the state of health research in the UAE from 2017 to 2022. The report highlighted that the growth rate of health research in the UAE during this period surpassed the global average, with research outputs increasing by 25.2%. Furthermore, 80% of the UAE's published health research was conducted in collaboration with international institutions, ranking it among the top in the GCC for joint health research endeavours.

With inputs from WAM