The Ministry of Health and Prevention (MoHAP) has organized a panel discussion titled " Best practices to address the challenges of noncommunicable diseases in the country and the region" in cooperation with Viatris, a Global Healthcare Company, at the Museum of the Future.
The session discussed the challenges of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in the UAE and the region, as well as the UAE’s ongoing efforts to confront and control NCDs and ways to promote healthy lifestyles. The gathering also outlined the initiatives launched by concerned health authorities to ensure community members lead healthy lives by implementing best practices and supporting the development of an efficient and sustainable healthcare system.
The workshop, which comes in line with the ministry’s ongoing efforts to facilitate the implementation of the National Strategy for Wellbeing 2031, was attended by HE Dr Hussain Abdul Rahman Al Rand, Assistant Undersecretary for the Public Health Sector; HE Dr. Amin Hussein Al Amiri, Assistant Undersecretary for the Health Regulation Sector, MoHAP; and Dr. Aisha Al Mehairi, Director of MoHAP’s Quality of Life and Sustainable Development department. Also present were Dr Buthaina Bin Belaila, Head of Non-communicable Disease Department; Dr. Amin Muhammad Al Shami, Quality of Life and Sustainable Development Consultant, Mr. Ayman Mokhtar, Viatris Regional President for the Middle East, Turkey & Levant Region; and Mr. Tamer El Sallab, Head of Gulf & Levant Cluster, Viatris.
Healthy life for every individual
In his opening speech, Dr Hussain Al Rand said: "Ensuring a healthy life for every individual, family, and community in the UAE is our top priority and fundamental element in our governmental framework. Therefore, our aspiration is to achieve the optimum of our people’s health, social, economic, and ecological wellbeing, in line with the UAE vision 2021 and Centennial plan 2071, which aim to make the UAE the best and happiest country in the world."
Equitable & healthy communities
"The UAE has been one of the early countries to dedicate a national strategy for happiness and wellbeing. In 2016, the UAE deployed the national program for happiness and wellbeing, while in 2019 the UAE government launched the national wellbeing strategy 2031. Moreover, the UAE leadership and government spare no effort to support, endorse and spread wellbeing. During the 75th WHA held in Geneva last May, the UAE led a resolution, which has been approved, calling upon the director general to develop a framework and action plan on achieving well-being, and encourage governments to create inclusive, equitable, and healthy communities," Al Rand added.
World-class healthcare system
The Assistant Undersecretary for the Public Health Sector went on to say: "In line with the Suitable Development Goal number 3, our national priorities for health and wellbeing are fostering the means of public health and healthcare to address our ambitious targets to control NCDs and to promote good mental wellbeing. Establishing an accessible and resilient world-class healthcare system is on our national agenda as a primary objective and enabler against current and future health-related threats. And COVID-19 was the best example that has proven the robustness and accessibility of our health system."
Pillars of National Wellbeing Strategy
Speaking about the National Wellbeing Strategy 2031, Dr. Aisha Al Mehairi said that the strategy is structured into three levels, namely individual, community, and national level. Within each level, there are a number of pillars to address various aspects of wellbeing, including social, environmental, economic, and digital, education, urbanization, and health.
She clarified that the health component of wellbeing within the strategy consists of 4 pillars, including physical wellbeing, mental wellbeing, establishing healthy communities of wellbeing, particularly in schools and at workplaces, and fourth, raising the satisfaction of healthcare services in line with MoHAP’s national commitment to establishing a world-class health system that is unique for being effective, flexible, and sustainable in providing healthcare services of top-notch quality.
Al Mehairi added that the national wellbeing strategy adopts a multi-sectorial collaborative approach leveraging the whole of government and the whole of society's contributions.
MoHAP-Viatris MoU
During the event, MoHAP and Viatris inked a memorandum of understanding (MoU), under which the latter shall support the ministry’s efforts, initiatives, campaigns, research a support the ministry and workshops designed to achieve the objectives of the national wellbeing strategy 2031. The partnership agreement was signed by Dr. Amin Hussein Al Amiri and Tamer El Sallab.
Promoting healthy lifestyles
Commenting on the MoU, Al Amiri said that the collaboration with Viatris will not only fuel the ministry’s ongoing efforts to fight non-communicable diseases such as cardiovascular diseases and diabetes but will also contribute to achieving our strategic goals of promoting healthy lifestyles in the UAE, reducing associated diseases and improving the results of national health indicators.
Stressing the importance of expanding public-private partnerships in the fight against NCDs, Al Amiri stated: "The private sector is fundamental component of our health sector in terms of the investment of public sector in health and health care, the potential within the private sector to finance healthcare. It plays a significant role in achieving the universal health coverage for everyone leaving no one behind, building capacities and establishing accessible and resilient healthcare system, while also promoting innovation to find solutions for today’s and tomorrow challenges. The MoU that we signed today with Viatris will certainly help us bring about these goals, which will eventually reflect on improving people's quality of life and promoting healthy lifestyles and mental health. "
Sustainable & innovative solutions
For his part, Ayman Mokhtar reaffirmed Viatris’ steadfast commitment to be UAE’s partner of choice for developing sustainable and innovative solutions that help achieve better health outcomes for people living with non-communicable diseases.