• Received highest certification from the Global Innovation Institute (GInI): Certified Innovative Government Organisation—Excellence Level.
• First federal entity to receive Accreditation of Accelerator Programme by GInI
• Received  ISO 56002 certification in innovation management for excellence in managing innovation processes.
• Winner of the Merit Award for the Web-based Digital Health awards, Website category,
• Winner of Excellence in Health Tech Innovation Award at the Tech Innovation Awards.
• Honoured by the World Health Organization for introducing the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine.
• Winner of two categories at the CIO Connect Awards 2024 in IT and cybersecurity.
• Launched the first health research platform in the Arab world.
• Introduced a decision-making support system for the health workforce.
• Analyzed the carbon footprint of the healthcare sector to measure environmental impact.
• Rolled out an AI-based dashboard for the Emergency, Crisis, and Disaster Center.
• Supported the adoption of the Science, Technology and Innovation Policy as well as the National Policy for Improving Women's Health.
• Launched the Patient Safety Friendly Hospitals Initiative to improve hospital safety standards.
• Launched the National Health and Nutrition Survey 2024, in collaboration with key partners.
• Introduced tobacco-free workplace guide, offering a reference for organizations to promote a healthier atmosphere
• Launched the National Newborn Screening Guidelines to standardise and enhance the medical examination procedures
• Developed the National Framework for Healthy Aging and a health response plan for dementia.
• Established standardized protocols for early monitoring of childhood obesity indicators.
• Partnered with the World Bank Group to conduct a comprehensive study on the cost of common diseases in the UAE.
• Developed a plan to establish Health Excellence Research Centers in the UAE.
• Surpassed the target for early detection of diabetes, conducting over 150,000 screenings in one year.
• Obtained multiple international ISO certifications for the first time and renewed several others.

 

The Ministry of Health and Prevention (MoHAP) has released its 2024 annual report, showcasing a series of qualitative achievements aligned with its strategic objectives to establish an integrated and sustainable digital health system.

These accomplishments were made as part the Ministry's commitment to achieving the vision of the UAE's leadership and the objectives of “We the UAE 2031” Vision. Therefore, the Ministry has adopted a proactive approach to developing innovative health policies and programs driven by digital data and artificial intelligence, seeking to build a comprehensive and integrated health sector, enhance its competitiveness, flexibility, and effectiveness while aligning with the UAE’s priorities on sustainability, competitiveness, and global leadership.

This report outlines the Ministry's key achievements, projects, and initiatives implemented over the past year 2024.

Awards and Recognition

Globally, the Ministry has achieved significant milestones, including receiving the highest certification from the Global Innovation Institute (GInI): Certified Innovative Government Organization—Excellence Level.

It also earned the Accreditation of an Accelerator Program by GInI, making it the first federal entity to be granted this certification. These achievements were further bolstered by the Ministry’s ISO 56002 certification in innovation management, which recognizes its excellence in fostering effective innovation processes, enhancing competitiveness, and building an organizational culture of innovation that supports its reputation and sustainable growth.

The Ministry's efforts were also acknowledged by the World Health Organization (WHO) for the UAE’s introduction of the HPV vaccine in the national immunization program. Additionally, the Ministry secured two awards at the CIO Connect Awards 2024 for excellence in IT and cybersecurity.

It has been named the winner of the Merit Award for the Web-based Digital Health awards, in the website category, organized by the Health Information Resource Centre (HIRC). This reflects MoHAP’s commitment to advancing its digital ecosystem in line with the UAE’s Digital Government Strategy 2025.

Additionally, the Ministry won the Excellence in Health Tech Innovation Award at the Tech Innovation Awards, organized by Entrepreneur Middle East. This was in recognition of its innovative projects, including the e-services project, the e-application, the AI Center of Excellence, and the Zero Trust Project.

Moreover, the Ministry renewed several ISO certifications, demonstrating its commitment to upholding the highest standards of quality and organizational excellence. Such accomplishments crown MoHAP’s non-stop efforts to improve organizational performance and enhance service delivery in line with international best practices.

Digital transformation

In 2024, the Ministry led the digital transformation journey in the health sector by launching the first health research platform in the Arab world. This platform provides reliable, real-time data on health research, allowing users to access published and updated research fields in an automatic and interactive manner.

Furthermore, the Ministry introduced a decision-making support system for the health workforce, housed within an integrated digital platform that covers all stages of their career paths. This initiative operates under the umbrella of the National Committee for Emiratization of Healthcare.

The Ministry also unveiled an innovative artificial intelligence-based dashboard for the Emergency, Crisis, and Disaster Centre, and upgraded the national digital health application “Al Hosn,” incorporating new features, including vaccination data for children from birth to 18 years old.

In further efforts to enhance service delivery, the Ministry launched an initiative to digitize customer happiness centers, aiming to eliminate in-person visits, and another initiative to automate daily revenue reconciliations, reinforcing the governance of financial operations.

Integrated preventive services

The Ministry has rolled out several initiatives and national guidelines aimed at improving community health. It launched the Patient Safety Friendly Hospitals Initiative in the UAE, which sets out accredited standards to enhance hospital performance in line with international practices.

The Ministry also partnered with various organizations to implement the National Survey for Health and Nutrition 2024, updating the population health database and measuring key health performance indicators.

To promote healthier work environments, the Ministry issued a tobacco-free workplace guide, offering a reference for organizations to foster a healthier atmosphere. Additionally, it introduced the National Newborn Screening Guidelines to standardize and enhance the medical examination procedures for newborns across the country.

The Ministry also launched the National School Health Screening Guideline and the National Maternal & Perinatal Death Surveillance & Response Guideline, both aimed at improving early health intervention.

In support of the National Program to Combat Obesity, the Ministry also developed standardized protocols for early childhood obesity monitoring. Furthermore, the Ministry exceeded its target for early diabetes detection, conducting over 150,000 screenings within a year.

Strategic partnerships

Additionally, the Ministry has strengthened the scientific research system by developing a forward-thinking strategy prioritizing health research in chronic diseases, epidemics, technology applications, and modern medical innovations.

In collaboration with the World Bank Group, the Ministry launched a comprehensive study on the cost of the most common diseases in the UAE.

It also developed a plan to establish Health Excellence Research Centers in partnership with health organizations, academic institutions, and Monash University in Australia.

To drive growth in the fields of research and clinical trials, the Ministry organized the first Clinical Research Forum. It further enhanced its healthcare initiatives by signing an agreement with AstraZeneca to advance the early detection of lung cancer through the latest technology.

Besides, the Ministry formed a strategic partnership with the UAE Media Council to promote accurate health content and oversee health-related advertisements.

Comprehensive organizational development

The Ministry introduced an innovative project to analyze the carbon footprint of the healthcare sector, collaborating with stakeholders to identify and measure greenhouse gas emissions.

It also developed a comprehensive action plan to implement the Zero Government Bureaucracy Program and introduced three health insurance packages for private sector workers and domestic workers.

In addition, the Ministry prepared the general framework and foundational guidelines for developing the unified health plan and health cadre strategy, along with the National Framework for Healthy Aging and a health response plan for dementia.

The Ministry also launched an awareness initiative encouraging participation in the Emirati Genome Program and introduced an easy payment plan for the instalment of service fees.

Innovative campaigns

MoHAP’s National Program for Organ and Tissue Donation and Transplantation, “Hayat,” has set a global benchmark, achieving unprecedented growth of 41.7% over the past five years, making it the fastest-growing program of its kind worldwide. This success was showcased at the prestigious 30th International Congress of The Transplantation Society (TTS 2024).

The Ministry also launched several key initiatives

including the annual national seasonal flu awareness campaign under the theme “Immunize Yourself... Protect Your Community,” the National Supplementary Measles Immunisation Campaign 2024, as well as the Heat Exhaustion Prevention Campaign 2024 that targeted 6,000 workers.

In addition, the Ministry partnered with the Emirates Autism Society to strengthen the integrated support system for individuals with autism. It also supported the adoption of the Science, Technology and Innovation Policy as well as the National Policy for Improving Women's Health.

These achievements reaffirm the Ministry of Health and Prevention's commitment to achieving the vision of the UAE's leadership to build a world-class health system that prioritizes the health, well-being, and happiness of the community.