The Ministry of Health and Prevention, MoHAP, on Thursday, honored a number of its employees who presented innovative ideas and projects in 2019 carried out via the Idea Management Hub “Afkari”, and those who have won local, regional and global awards in innovation, and those who presented innovative health research papers and participant in the innovation Month.
The honoring came on the sidelines of MoHAP’s annual ceremony held at its Training & Development Center in Sharjah and in conjunction with the conclusion of its activities in the “UAE Innovation Month – February 2020” under the theme “UAE Innovates towards the Next 50”.
During this month, MoHAP organized about 19 initiatives and programs including international conferences and health exhibitions, in addition to launching several innovative projects.
The event was attended HE Awad Saghir Al Ketbi, Assistant Undersecretary of the Support Services Sector and Saqr Al-Hemeiri, Director of the Training & Development Center and Chief Innovation Officer, and representatives of cooperating parties, as well as those who took part in the activities organized by the ministry in the UAE Innovation Month.
Boosting the Culture of Innovation
In his keynote address, HE Awad Saghir Al Ketbi, congratulated those who have been honored, pointing out this comes in recognition of everyone made his mark in developing ideas and innovating tools and practices to achieve leadership in health innovation, improve the quality of the health sector and to provide the best health services for community members.
“MoHAP is keen on bolstering the innovative ideas and recognizing the fruitful accomplishments. This trend aims to create a stimulating and competitive environment to encourage employees to share their ideas and provide unique and innovative solutions to scale up the level of excellence and leadership, as well as to enhance innovation and institutional excellence practices,” he added.
A Future Vision for the UAE
“The UAE Innovation Month is one of the country’s most prominent events, as a future platform that strengthens the UAE’s position in the field of innovation worldwide. The constant success of this month underlines its growing role in transforming innovation into an approach, lifestyle, and new knowledge, besides providing the governmental work system with innovative initiatives and projects, and enhancing the sustainable development march, in accordance with the vision of the wise leadership,”
A Global Innovation Hub
Al Ketbi highlighted that MoHAP activities in the Innovation Month, including innovative initiatives and conferences aimed at bringing together innovators in the UAE and experts in the field of innovation in addition to stimulating institutions and individuals and engaging them in creating innovations that provide solutions to future challenges. This was apparent in launching the first of kind award in the UAE and the region "Innovate for Health ", something which strengthens the UAE’s position among the world’s most innovative countries.
Future Prospects in Healthcare Field
Saqr Al-Hemeiri, Director of the Training & Development Center and Chief Innovation Officer highlighted the importance of motivating employees to provide innovative ideas that benefit institutional and health work, especially in the field of innovating means, practices, and tools based on artificial intelligence technologies, the fourth industrial revolution, VR, AR, and blockchain. This would help develop health services and health care standards towards unprecedented horizons.
Innovative Projects
It’s noteworthy that MoHAP organized 19 events in the UAE Innovation Month including international conferences, training workshops and health exhibitions in several regions including Fujairah, Ras Al Khaimah, Sharjah, and Dubai, in addition to launching a number of innovative projects, such as the first of its kind “Innovate for Health Award”, and the launch of an innovative system in employment and development using artificial intelligence, through “Taqat Platform”, with the aim of effectively managing MoHAP’s recruitment process, developing employee skills and managing talents.
Global and Regional Participation
During the UAE Innovation Month, MoHAP held 3 international conferences in the pediatric intensive care, innovation in CPR, and artificial intelligence in health care, with the participation of global and regional experts and representatives of institutions and companies of innovation, digital health, information technology, and artificial intelligence.
This is in addition to a number of health exhibitions such as; the "transition to the future" exhibition "Health in 50 Years", and the Health Research Exhibition 2020, in addition to an innovative exhibition to showcase the latest health innovations at the Sharjah Medical District, the “UAE Innovation Month” Exhibition at the Ras Al Khaimah Medical District, the Health Innovation Exhibition to enhance the quality of life at Fujairah Hospital, Primary Health Care Fujairah, Masafi Hospital, and Fujairah Medical District.
Other activities included the VR-Based Leadership Lab, the Innovation Studio show which provides practical experience for the technologies of the fourth industrial revolution, honoring innovators, hosting innovators from the people of determination who managed to overcome their disability, as well as the marketing day event for the innovation district, a presentation of innovative projects by university students.