Day: October 24, 2021

ABU DHABI, The Department of Health – Abu Dhabi (DoH), the regulator of the healthcare sector in the emirate, affirmed that the virtual autopsy (post-mortem imaging) technology used by the emirate’s healthcare sector has been an indispensable tool in combating COVID-19 and other infectious diseases.

Abu Dhabi has led an effective human-centred response since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic and continues to develop early detection strategies and implement various preventive measures. UAE is among a group of countries that adopted virtual autopsy, along with the US, UK, Canada, Germany, Australia and Japan.

During virtual autopsies, the body of the deceased undergoes clinical radiology or CT scans that are conducted by qualified technicians, using protocols and regulations set by DoH and in line with international practices respecting the sanctity and maintaining the privacy of the bodies. The seamless procedure is conducted while the body is in the cadaver bag (commonly known as a ‘body bag’) and does not subject it to a postmortem physical examination.

DoH and its various health facilities have been at the forefront of adopting innovative medical solutions to enable the community to return to normalcy. Abu Dhabi Central Morgue is integrating virtual autopsy techniques into their investigation procedures. Medical examiners will apply virtual autopsies in order to identify signs of respiratory distress or symptoms that would indicate the possibility of a COVID-19 infection. The diagnosis generated from a virtual autopsy enables medical technicians to determine whether contacts of the deceased require further examination in an effort to limit repercussions. Apart from COVID-19, the advanced technology will contribute to the investigation of various infectious diseases without compromising the safety of the morgue’s staff.

The technology was introduced a year ago in Abu Dhabi and has helped in the legal investigation of over 700 cases. The virtual autopsy image analysis will take 15 to 30 minutes to report. The adoption of virtual autopsy in the UAE will provide healthcare facilities with accurate diagnoses post-examination of bodies. Diagnoses will include cause of death, gender, age group and detection of physical violence.

Dr. Jamal Mohammed Al Kaabi, Under-Secretary of DoH, said, “The healthcare sector in Abu Dhabi is committed to exploring, developing, and employing some of the latest medical technologies and innovations to combat COVID-19. Abu Dhabi exhibits exemplary leadership when it comes to its human-centred COVID-19 response and world-class healthcare facilities and technologies.”

Dr. Marwan Al Kaabi, Acting Group Chief Operations Officer, SEHA, said, “In line with SEHA’s commitment to equipping the community with world-class healthcare services, we continue to work relentlessly to enhance our quality of services by implementing the highest quality standards and utilising innovation alongside the latest cutting-edge technologies to provide our patients with services that are quick and efficient. This will allow us to maintain the health and well-being of all members of the community and progress further in the path of success.”

Dr. Nayef Hasan Al Janaahi, the first Emirati-licensed consultant in forensic radiology by the Department of Health – Abu Dhabi, said, “I take pride in being the first Emirati-licensed doctor by DoH in Forensic Radiology. This would not have been possible were it not for the continuous support and guidance of our wise leadership and their efforts to develop the healthcare sector in the emirate. Virtual autopsy has modernised the medical investigation of bodies while ensuring health and safety of medical staff and contacts of the deceased maintaining respect and privacy towards the bodies of deceased individuals.”

Source: Emirates News Agency

ABU DHABI, The UAE Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology (MoIAT) has hosted a “Sci-Tech Virtual Tour” to highlight the UAE’s science and technology ecosystem and the incentives, advantages, and opportunities for global investors, innovators, and business leaders, especially in the medical technology field.

The first of a series of virtual tours to showcase investment opportunities in the country, the two-day event was organised in cooperation with the UAE Embassy in the Republic of South Korea. It welcomed an audience of researchers, start-ups, SMEs, and representatives of major companies in the science, technology, and healthcare sectors in the UAE and South Korea. In addition to offering information on the UAE’s investment ecosystem, the virtual tour provided a platform for stakeholders to network, engage, and ultimately exchange ideas, expertise, and know-how.

The sessions and discussions were aligned with the Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology’s national industrial strategy, Operation 300bn, the 10-year strategy that aims to empower and expand the industrial sector in order to strengthen its contribution to the national GDP to AED 300 billion by 2031.

Omar Ghobash, Assistant Minister for Public and Cultural Diplomacy, opened the virtual event, in the presence of Abdulla Saif Al Nuaimi, UAE Ambassador to the Republic of South Korea, and a number of stakeholders from both countries. Ghobash offered an overview of the opportunities available within the UAE’s healthcare sector.

The tour comprised several sessions held over two mornings, designed to underline the UAE’s appeal as an investment destination and showcase the strides the nation has made in the fields of science and technology, specifically in healthcare and medical technology.

The first day included a number of panel discussions. The first session focused on the objectives of the national strategy for industry and advanced technology – Operation 300Bn – and the competitive advantages of the UAE economy and the financing and enabling role of the Emirates Development Bank. The second session provided an overview of the investment environment in the country, while the remaining sessions discussed the business environment of the UAE’s science and technology sector. The final session was devoted to discussing the future of technology use in the health sector.

On the second day, the opening session addressed the importance of the academic sector in the growth of the science and technology environment in the two countries, as well as the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the progress of research and development efforts. The first session of the day focused on the role of investment and international partnerships within Operation 300Bn. The second session involved a review of the UAE’s research and development sector. The third session comprised a panel discussion between stakeholders from both countries working in the field of healthcare and technology. The fourth and final session focused on the role of academia in developing the industry.

Tariq Al Hashmi, Head of Technology Development and Adoption at the Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology, confirmed the event would represent a vital first step in deepening the relationship between the UAE and South Korea in this important field.

“What we are trying to create in this virtual tour is a bridge between our science and technology communities in the UAE and South Korea. We understand that South Korea has great capacity and great capabilities in science and technology, and we are really excited to learn more about the ecosystem in South Korea.”

He added, “Med-tech is very important to us in the UAE, and we are trying to harness medical technologies for the wellbeing of our people, as well as create commercial opportunities in this vital sector. The UAE and Korea have cooperated on many successful projects in nuclear science and space technology, and we are confident we can expand this collaboration in the medical technology field.”

Omar Ghobash said, “The development of a world-class healthcare system is of critical importance to the Emirates and is one of the key pillars of our national agenda. The sector has rapidly expanded to meet the needs of a growing population and the country’s ambition to become a regional medial tourism hub. As part of the growth and increased sophistication of our healthcare sector, the UAE continues to seek out, identify, develop, and implement new, best-in-class medical technology solutions. These include telemedicine, digitisation of medical records, connected medical devices, data privacy protection, laboratory technology, the internet of medical things, 3D printing, and more. This bodes well for the expansion of the med-tech sector.”

He added, “The Republic of Korea is a leading knowledge economy, pursuing cutting-edge tech research and the development of advanced 4IR technologies – and it is our hope the virtual tour will enable new partnerships and exchanges and empower learning and the development of the sci-tech sectors in both our countries.”

During his remarks, Ambassador Al Nuaimi underlined the rapidly developing industrial ecosystem of the UAE, which he believed provides many opportunities for Korean investors, business owners, and stakeholders.

“The country’s industrial sector is guided by an ambitious, comprehensive strategy that was launched in March 2021 by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai. It focuses on future industries that implement advanced technologies and Fourth Industrial Revolution applications. Named Operation 300bn, the strategy aims to advance and expand the industrial sector to be the driving force of the sustainable national economy in the UAE by 2031.”

He added, “The Republic of Korea is one of the leading countries in science and technology and has made major achievements in advancing the Fourth Industrial Revolution. With regards to bilateral cooperation in science and technology, the sector has been high on the agenda during visits exchanged by the leaders of the two countries over the past few years. During those visits, the two sides concluded a number of agreements for cooperation in various fields, including science and technology.”

The presentations and discussions during the UAE’s Sci-Tech Virtual Tour included an overview of the UAE’s Operation 300bn industrial and advanced technology strategy from Abdulla Al Mahri, Director of Investment and Stakeholder Engagement at the Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology; an examination of the UAE Investment Ecosystem from the Ministry of Economy’s Dr. Hassan Al Sayegh, Director of SME Development, and Hind Al Youha, Director of the Investment and Talent Attraction Department; the science and technology ecosystem in the Emirates of Abu Dhabi, Dubai, and Sharjah; the UAE’S research and development ecosystem; and the role of academia in industry.

A group of major national companies participated in the discussions on the role of advanced technology in healthcare. It included G42 Healthcare, a subsidiary of the UAE G42 Group, which specialises in artificial intelligence and cloud computing; Mubadala Healthcare, the integrated healthcare network of Mubadala Investment; and Abu Dhabi Investment Office.

Source: Emirates News Agency

DUBAI, A delegation from the Muslim Council of Elders led by the Secretary General Dr. Sultan Al Remeithi, member of the Higher Committee of Human Fraternity has visited Egypt’s pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai.

Al Remeithi said, “The impressive Egyptian pavilion is a reflection of the multi-faceted growth and success the country is going through at the moment, as well as presenting Egypt as an up-and-coming tourist and economic hub.”

The Secretary General presented the head of the Egyptian pavilion Dr. Ahmed Mighwari a copy of the ‘Human Fraternity Document’ which was signed by His Eminence Dr. Ahmed El-Tayeb, the Grand Imam of Al Azhar and Chairman of the Muslim Council of Elders as well as His Holiness Pope Francis, Pontiff of the Catholic Church in Abu Dhabi in 2019.

Source: Emirates News Agency

SHARJAH, The International Monetary Fund (IMF) hosted an expert discussion on the state of recovery in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, in tandem with the launch of its annual Middle East & Central Asia Regional Economic Outlook report. The report outlines the region’s post-pandemic progress and the policies that can help secure a more sustainable, inclusive recovery.

The discussion, moderated by CNN’s Becky Anderson, brought together Jihad Azour, Director of the Middle East and Central Asia Department at the IMF, Badr Jafar, CEO of Crescent Enterprises, Sherif Kamel, Dean of the American University in Cairo School of Business, and Monica Malek, Chief Economist of Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank.

Several countries across the region, primarily in the Gulf Region, have made significant strides, but progress has been inconsistent. Jihad Azour explained, “Since the beginning of this year, the MENA region has made good progress and the recovery is ongoing despite the new outbreaks. Yet, the recovery is uneven and incomplete, with new challenges emerging, such as rising inflation and inequities.

Countries with higher vaccination rates, less dependence on tourism, and more policy space will recover more quickly and experience less scarring in the longer term. Oil exporters will benefit from higher oil prices.”

Despite several challenges emerging as the region recovers from the pandemic, Badr Jafar shared his views on some positive trends unfolding in the private sector. Alongside a record rise in venture capital investments, and a conscious shift towards embracing Environmental Social Governance (ESG) principles in business, Badr Jafar emphasised, “As trust in business globally rises, I’m seeing a similar trend in our region, with the private sector increasingly seen as an essential partner to achieve our region’s national goals.”

The pandemic has made it increasingly clear that governments around the world cannot overcome economic shocks and emerging challenges alone. Badr Jafar remarked, “In many ways, the pandemic forced sectors to work together around the world. The vaccine drive is a clear example of a successful public, private, and people partnership. And so I hope that the experiences of the past 18 months will provide inspiration as to the models of collaboration and cooperation we need to see in the region if we are to overcome ur most difficult challenges.”

Business must be part of the solution, and the IMF’s report highlights that a key requirement for a transformational recovery of the region is a reorientation of the role of the state with a focus on health, education, providing social safety nets, and pursuing competition-enhancing regulatory reform to promoting private sector innovation and growth.

Source: Emirates News Agency