Over the last two years, COVID-19 has been relentless in crossing borders and spreading to the furthest corners of the globe. There is universal consensus on vaccines being effective in the fight against the pandemic. However, vaccines solely do not save lives, without being coupled with an effective vaccination programme. 

Dr. Omar Najm, Director of Executive Affairs Office, Department of Health – Abu Dhabi, discusses in this interview how a global challenge exists in the transportation, storage, and distribution of vaccines. Compounded by the existing global supply chain challenges across the board, the high demand to vaccinate 70 per cent of the world population in 2021-2022, and the changing nature of the virus, he says makes this the biggest and most sophisticated airlift in history.

According to WHO, vaccine equity will accelerate the end of the pandemic. How crucial is it to establish an effective global vaccine and pharma supply chain?

Related: Rafed plays a key role in sourcing anti-viral treatment for COVID-19

In UAE and Abu Dhabi, collaboration across professional labels and geographies was a vital enabler in executing the vaccination programme that made UAE the number one country in vaccination rate per capita. In our experience in establishing the HOPE Consortium, we looked at every single step along the vaccine journey from delivery to effective vaccination and assembled the best in the world to provide solutions against each step. 

To that end, the Department of Health Abu Dhabi spearheaded the HOPE Consortium’s mission to deliver vaccines to all those in need around the world at the right time, in the right place and in the right conditions. Our partners include Etihad Cargo, AD Ports Group, Maqta Gateway, Rafed, and SkyCell, each of whom play a key role to ensure a smooth vaccine supply chain operation.

Related: Effective supply chains speed up vaccine distribution

In facilitating vaccine deliveries across 60 countries in 2021, we quickly learned that we need to help establish the necessary medical and logistical infrastructure to ensure the absorption of vaccines and other pharma supplies. To better serve this need, we are pleased to have collaborated with UNICEF to deliver 65 ultra-cold freezers, enabling over 20 African nations to scale immunisation programmes using vaccines requiring ultra-cold storage.

Vaccine delivery is often not enough, particularly in hard-to-reach areas and parts of the African continent, which prompted us to add in-country vaccination services to help accelerate global immunisation and minimise vaccine wastage. The combined service, made possible through our partnership with Via Medica International, enables countries and communities with limited medical and logistical capacities to inoculate their populations quickly and efficiently, making sure that each vaccine delivered is a vaccine administered.

The partnership's outreach to the African region was further supported by Etihad Cargo's expansion of its pharma network and partnerships signed with Astral Aviation and Kenya Airways to ensure equitable access and distribution of COVID-19 vaccines through airfreight solutions on the African continent.

The final crucial component to establishing a robust global vaccine and pharma supply chain is the real-time monitoring of shipments, which is where we applied a unique blockchain-based tracking system called mUnity, managed by Maqta Gateway – one of the founding partners of the HOPE Consortium.

Dr. Omar Najm, Director of Executive Affairs Office, Department of Health – Abu Dhabi

 

How can blockchain enabled supply chain ensure seamless tracking and delivery, and why is it key to integrate?

The journey of COVID-19 vaccines, from manufacturers to end users, involves navigating safety and security risks at every stage. COVID-19 vaccines are temperature-sensitive and have precise handling and storage requirements; and failure to comply can render them ineffective.

Blockchain can help us address these risks, as each transaction in the supply chain is documented on the blockchain, with security and privacy built into the system from within. This unalterable chain of data helps prevent the development of counterfeit shipments from hacked data and pinpoints any incidences of tampering during shipment.

One of the solutions that we deployed from day one is the live tracking of every single vaccine in the handling process. Developed and managed by Maqta Gateway, mUnity is a custom-built digital system built upon the tried and tested digital technology that was originally developed for managing marine shipments and port communities. This tracking system leverages the latest IoT devices and is further secured and authenticated by using blockchain technology for the first time in vaccine delivery.

Real-time tracking allows our team to instantly mitigate any issues that arise, minimise risks, ensure zero loss or waste due to security issues, temperature excursion or break. In turn, this allows us to reach more people for vaccinations in the shortest time possible. This blockchain-enabled tracking builds on what was developed initially by Maqta Gateway for the tracking of high worth items around the world such as diamonds. 

Can you tell us about the impact of the HOPE Consortium since its first year into operations?

Within one year of operations, the HOPE Consortium has made significant progress in furthering the global community’s mission of achieving mass and equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines all corners the world.

Committed to facilitating vaccine storage, handling, and deliveries in scale, we installed the UAE’s largest freezer farm at the Rafed Distribution Centre in KIZAD. The facility can hold more than 120 million vaccine vials at any time across all the temperature requirement from -80 to +8 and ambient. This static capacity amount to a capacity to handle over 9 billion vaccine doses per year.

With the help of its partners, the Abu Dhabi-led initiative has successfully delivered over 250 million vaccine doses to-date in over 60 countries.

Over the course of our operations in 2021, we established many collaborations to strengthen Abu Dhabi as a logistical hub for life science, including establishing a vaccine corridor with Brussels airport (the largest life science airport in Europe) and Pharma.aero to deliver a masterclass in life science logistics from Abu Dhabi to the world.

What are the key priorities for the HOPE Consortium and the global vaccine supply chain landscape going into 2022?

Abu Dhabi has been recognised as the safest city in response to the pandemic two times in a row according to the DKG ranking and contributed to the UAE being recognised as the most COVID-resilient country in the world, according to the November 2021 ranking by Bloomberg. Most importantly, this is evidenced by one of the lowest rates of mortality globally along with the highest vaccination and testing rates per capita. Additionally, our contribution globally has been evident through our humanitarian efforts and the establishment of the HOPE Consortium.

After one year of operations, we still see an urgent need for vaccines and boosters across the global community. To better serve this need while leveraging our position as a pharma logistics hub and destination for global welfare, we want to establish dedicated trade lines with Europe that will boost the union of key compliant and sector certified supply chain stakeholders such as forwarders and ground handling agents.

In the months to come, we will continue to invest in strategic public and private sector collaborations as well as the allocation of expertise and resources to enhance the delivery of vaccines to countries across the world.

In parallel, we are confident in our vision to establish Abu Dhabi as a regional and global life science centre. Our leading life science logistics capabilities are being supported by an expanding investment in life science research, education, development, regulation, manufacturing, skills attraction and infrastructure. In addition to its hub position, Abu Dhabi’s key differentiator will continue to be its focus on the latest life science and biotechnology approaches and aspirations. 

A new treatment that could raise the survival rates of HER2-low breast cancer patients who are in the advanced stages of the disease. 

At the recent DESTINY-Breast04 Phase III trial, hosted by AstraZeneca PLC, a globally renowned biopharma giant, and Daiichi Sankyo Company, a Japan-based pharmaceutical group, the HER2-directed antibody drug conjugate Enhertu (Trastuzumab deruxtecan) demonstrated a high rate of response in patients classified under HER2 hormone receptor positive and the triple negative group. To date, around 55% of breast cancer patients fall under the HER2 low metastatic category.  

According to Susan Galbraith, Executive Vice President Oncology R&D at AstraZeneca, the results position Enhertu with the potential to become the best-in-class solution for an antibody drug conjugate directed against HER2. The treatment further sets the stage for expansion into other cancer types and welcomes a combination of treatment options.

“There are several other cancers with HER2 expression segments that we can take the drug into. In addition to this, the profile both safety and efficacy is one that is supportive of going into early lines of treatment,” said Galbraith. “In fact, we have initiated trials in the early stages of breast cancer in the HER2 high category. The data we see today can give us the encouragement to take this drug now into the early stages of breast cancer in HER2 low,” she added.

While the results of the study are expected to be published soon for public review, AstraZeneca and Daiichi Sankyo are working on submitting the data to health authorities across the globe and looking forward to approvals. 

Related: Breast cancer survival increases when time between diagnosis and concluding treatments is limited

“This is exciting news for patients, who now will have an option of a targeted therapy in an area where chemotherapy has been exclusively used. I would like to stress that not only does the drug improve progression-free survival, but also significantly and clinically improves the overall survival. This is very important for patients that are in advanced stages of the disease,” said Gilles Gallant, Senior Vice President, Global Head, Oncology Development, Oncology R&D, Daiichi Sankyo.

Regulatory disclaimer: Enhertu ‘Trastuzumab deruxtecan’ is not currently registered or approved for use in GCC countries.

The onset of COVID-19 has sparked unprecedented innovation across the healthcare spectrum, including the fast adoption of advanced technologies that affect business outcomes and the patient experience. Okadoc is an all-in-one patient engagement platform located in the UAE that enables clinicians to communicate with their patients in real-time. Founded in 2018, the platform now works in three countries: UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Indonesia. It allows health systems to provide a wide range of services, including 24/7 self-scheduling and telemedicine, as well as a marketplace and payment options.

For health systems and plans, Okadoc is a technology partner that increases operational efficiency, improving patient engagement and retention. For patients, it’s an all-in-one platform that digitises the experience and provides access to quality care, resulting in better health outcomes. 

Named among the GCC’s top 100 inspiring leaders of 2019 by Arabian Business Magazine and listed in the same magazine’s ‘40 entrepreneurs and business leaders under 40’, we spoke to Fodhil Benturquia, Founder & CEO of Okadoc about how the best-funded health tech startup in the GCC aims to improve the healthcare experience for all.

How is Okadoc facilitating operational efficiency, improving patient engagement and retention? How does this ensure seamless workflow and how big of a role does AI and automation play in this?

Okadoc’s goal from its inception is to improve the healthcare experience for all. When founding Okadoc, our mission was to address two critical pain points for both patients and health care providers. The first was addressing the patient no-show rate. The second was to ease the booking process and reduce the time to book an appointment with a doctor. 

We’ve tackled these two issues by developing the region’s only instant doctor platform that is directly integrated with the healthcare providers electronic medical records (EMR), meaning patients can view real-time doctor availabilities, instantly book appointments, receive reminders, reschedule, cancel, or even request reminders for earlier availability.

Through our integration, we are also able to manage 100 per cent of a healthcare provider’s appointments – removing burdens on call centers and allowing all patients (whether they book online or at the call center) to take ownership of their appointments with ease, including outside of traditional call center hours.

The platform also enables healthcare providers to offer safe and secure virtual consultations to their patients from the comfort and safety of their own homes, including document sharing and online chat to seamlessly connect patients and doctors. 

The result is an efficient and seamless healthcare experience, increasing patient satisfaction, improving operational efficiencies, and creating new revenue streams.

Fodhil Benturquia, Founder & CEO, Okadoc

Why is it important more now than ever to be a one-stop-shop to engage and retain patients in today’s world?

Patient engagement is a must for healthcare organisations that want to deliver higher-quality care and improved outcomes. By providing a one-stop-shop for patients to seamlessly connect with their doctors across the entire patient journey, we’re increasing access to and better managing patient care.

Today multiple apps are offering multiple solutions (appointment booking, telehealth, reminders, referrals, etc). Most patients would rather go to one destination where they can access all solutions and have a more unified/consistent user experience. Providers also prefer using one platform where they can engage with their patients and easily access all patient health information. The result is less time spent actioning manual tasks (dealing with multiple systems) and more time spent caring for patients. In the end, an engaged patient means better health outcomes – they become more invested in their health and remain connected to their doctors.

Digitalisation in healthcare has been deemed necessary yet the transition has been accelerated in some aspects yet lacking in others. Can you comment on how necessary it is for products and platforms such as Okadoc to lead the journey of advancements in healthcare?

Technology is reshaping the relationship between patients, healthcare providers, and health insurance companies. This transformational change in the healthcare industry is taking place because people are becoming empowered and conditioned to using digital tools in every aspect of life – from booking flights to ordering food or using online banking. Again, for healthcare organisations to deliver high-quality care and improve health and business outcomes, they must adapt to this digital revolution. 

Platforms such as Okadoc can partner with healthcare organisations to achieve their digital transformation objectives on an ongoing basis.

Data is a powerful tool; how can it provide necessary overhauls for a better patient experience?

At Okadoc, everything we do leverages the data we are collecting. It better informs our business and helps us adapt to what patients and healthcare organisations need to be healthy and successful. For example, by understanding what times patients engage with our platform and what services they are booking, we can better equip our partners to make business decisions, for example, adjustments to admin staff, increasing availability of doctors and service offerings. Data informs intelligent decision-making, and that’s exactly what the industry needs in this era of healthcare delivery.

As the best-funded health tech start-up in the GCC, Okadoc has grown exponentially, what is next on the cards?

We’ll continue to focus on growing our business, deepening our work in UAE and KSA, and growing into other markets too. In addition, Okadoc has introduced new service offerings, such as COVID testing, vaccinations, and home healthcare to ensure patients get the access to care that they deserve.

Ultimately, our vision is to make the healthcare experience better for everyone involved. We’ll continue to solve problems with the power of technology. We hope that everyone, globally, will be able to book a doctor in 35 seconds or less.

 

An organisation can bring vital changes into its operations, enhance its efficiency, optimise resources, and attain sustainability by adopting digital technologies. The pandemic has been a turning point for many industries across different sectors, as it accelerated the adoption of digital technologies.

For instance, a sector that has been showing an unprecedented pace in adopting digital technologies is the healthcare. Unlike others, the healthcare sector has unique requirements, and any change will impact patients’ safety, experience, and satisfaction.

Related: Digitalisation in healthcare: A life-saving transformation

It is also important to note that the patient-centric approaches in healthcare have made the adoption of digital solutions a necessity for healthcare providers. In addition, it will also enable them to strengthen its operations by integrating its verticals such as patient care, administration, human resources, data management, finance and accounts, and supply chain.

Currently, disruptive digital technologies have been instrumental in bringing vital changes in the sector through information platforms, virtual and on-demand healthcare, Artificial Intelligence and cloud-based services, wearable devices, and telemedicine, to name a few. Furthermore, digital transformation can also contribute towards carbon footprints reduction and sustainability goals.

Related: Artificial Intelligence will give healthcare workers more chance to show care and empathy

Sultan Salim Al Owais is the Managing Director - Special Projects, EVOTEQ

One of the emerging technologies that have brought many significant changes in the health sector is AI. Besides enabling the healthcare sector to create bespoke healthcare services, AI plays a vital role in electronic medical records (EMR) and transformation of clinical documentation; facilitation of on-demand services enabling customers to consult with their healthcare provider at their convenience; allow clinicians to make informed decisions; reduce medical errors ensuring utmost patient care. It is also interesting to note that the energy-efficient, paperless environment, enabled by EMR contribute vastly to organisations' sustainability goals.

The healthcare sector can also meet the increasing demand for remote and on-demand health services through adopting emerging technologies. Smart solutions such as AI-powered chatbots, telemedicine and mobile applications with user-friendly interfaces will help healthcare industries to facilitate patient engagement.

Another major change that can be observed in this sector is the introduction of Virtual Reality (VR) technology and robotics in medical treatments. While VR is seen widely in treatment for health issues ranging from pain to severe anxiety disorder, surgical robots are increasingly used for conducting complex surgical procedures that require accuracy and high precision.

Besides patients, healthcare professionals, clinical facilities such as hospitals and labs, and treatment models, one healthcare segment that largely benefits from digital transformation is the supply chain. By implementing digital technology in the supply chain, healthcare providers can deliver products or services to patients cost-effective and error-free. A digital supply chain can also improve data flow and analytics, provider-patient connectedness, asset tracking, and regulatory compliance in this sector.

The importance of efficient supply chain solutions was also reaffirmed during the pandemic when healthcare providers across the world faced shortages for Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and life supporting medicines and equipment. Implementation of emerging technologies in supply chain such as track and trace solutions, healthcare organisations can streamline distribution of products, reduce delays and errors and control shortages to an extent.

In a research report published by KPMG titled ‘Healthcare sector on the cusp of a technology led revolution’, industry leaders from the sector underline the significance of digital technologies in ensuring the future readiness of the healthcare system. By adopting the latest advancements in technology, the healthcare sector can create new patient care models, which are efficient, cost-effective, and sustainable.

The French Pavilion at Arab Health 2022 was organised by Business France with a delegation of 79 French businesses gathering under the banner of the French Healthcare, in order to create and develop meaningful connections and support innovation in the healthcare sector. Business France is the French agency responsible for supporting the international development of the French economy. It works to promote export growth by French businesses, and to encourage and facilitate international investment in France. French Healthcare, on the other hand, is an innovative public-private initiative aimed at bringing together players in the French healthcare ecosystem (businesses, researchers, healthcare professionals, public players, etc.) so that they can jointly promote their activities, know-how and technologies internationally.

On the sidelines of the show, we spoke to Jean-Patrick Lajonchère, director-general of Paris St. Joseph Hospital and senior advisor for the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Jean-François Gendron, President of the French Healthcare Association, President of the Val de Loire Chamber of Commerce and Industry and Vice-president of CCI International, who discussed French Healthcare Association’s partnership in detail.

Related: French companies showcase breakthrough Medtech products

French Healthcare organised, in partnership with the French Healthcare Association and Business France, a high-profile phygital conference in English at the France Pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai from January 25-26, during Arab Health.

Jean-Patrick Lajonchère (L) and Jean-François Gendron (R)

Related: Get inspired by French innovation and expertise in healthcare

Gendron said: “French Healthcare has over 250 members from different specialities under its umbrella. Therefore, attending Arab Health 2022 is important for all French exhibitors. In fact, many of them were here last June for the last edition. We have also organised seven conferences at the French Pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai, from January 25 and 26, that will cover various topics such as diabetes, digital health, and women’s health, among others.”

Oncology is one of the key healthcare sectors that France specialises in, said Lajonchère. “We are leading innovators in developing medical devices that can help reduce pain and think it is important for patients to start taking control of their own healthcare and are keen on investing in innovation. France also has a long history of excellence in areas such as cardiovascular, surgery, diagnostics, and comprehensive medicine. For example, our oncology centres are renowned worldwide. French medicine is not only about biology or imaging, but it is also about clinical examination. Therefore, it is essential to focus on comprehensive medicine.”

The slogan of French Healthcare is ‘Improving healthcare for all’, and Gendron highlighted that, “we speak with this phrase to the world and want to highlight the quality of our offerings to the world. It’s our philosophy. We want to do prove that with the innovations present here by French companies at Arab Health.”

Lajonchère added: “Inside France, healthcare for all is a reality, nobody is outside of the system and there is no priority given, everyone receives the care they need. We are one of the very few systems in the world that offer this. Therefore, with our slogan, we are trying to say that this is possible for other people as well. So, with our companies, with us taking charge of foreign patients, we would like to propose this for everybody.”

Gendron stressed that there are two factors that make the relationship between the UAE and France strong. First, France has several investments in the country and has entered strategic partnerships such as developing the Louvre. Secondly, Dubai is a hub for the Middle East and being present in the region presents numerous opportunities for French companies.

“Furthermore, this market asks for very high technology devices, which presents an interesting challenge for our companies,” Lajonchère added.

The French Healthcare Association also provides help with hospital infrastructure, right from design programming to construction, quality, and financing, among others. According to Gendron: “We want to offer a global solution for hospitals. For example, when building a hospital, it is not important to just have equipment inside, but efficient training needs to occur. This is something we can offer.”

“Besides all the industrial offer, there are medical doctors in France that are able to teach and welcome doctors for training in France. So, there are not only the companies that are present at Arab Health who are willing to share their know-how but there are doctors that can help teach and transfer their knowledge,” Lajonchère concluded.

Guided by innovation, Beckman Coulter Diagnostics supports healthcare providers in delivering enhanced patient care through accurate diagnostic information.

Dedicated to improving healthcare outcomes for patients by leveraging the power of science and technology, the Beckman Coulter family is driven by passion to elevate the diagnostic laboratory's role in improving healthcare outcomes. Its diagnostic systems are integrated in hospitals, reference laboratories, in complex biomedical testing and physician offices all over the world.

Related: Beckman Coulter Webinar – Role of Laboratory Medicine in Diagnosis and Management of COVID-19

Beckman Coulter has been an operating company of Danaher Corporation since 2011, with headquarters in Brea, Calif., and more than 11,000 global employees dedicated to making the world a healthier place.

During Medlab, we spoke with Nurgul Vatansever, Vice President EEMEA (Eastern Europe, , Middle East & Africa) at Beckman Coulter Diagnostics about the impact of the pandemic in the diagnostics industry.

Related: Beckman Coulter Webinar – Fighting the Pandemic through Mass Testing

Vice President Commercial Eastern Europe, Middle East & Africa of Beckman Coulter, Nurgul Vatansever

How does participating in Medlab encourage organisations to open dialogue on client needs?

As you know, Medlab is one of the most key events, gathering around 20,000 attendees from more than 60 countries. In the last two years, the pandemic paralysed the entire world as many regions observed a lockdown, limiting face to face interaction. This year Medlab marks the return to normal by providing a platform for us to reunite with our customers. Beckman Coulter is passionate about listening to our customers and understanding their needs. Having the opportunity to showcase our latest technology and solutions in person is ideal, as nothing replaces face to face interaction. We’ve missed that, and thanks to Medlab, we were all brought together again.

Can you tell us about how Beckman is supporting customers in your region, which is East Europe Middle East and Africa, during the pandemic?

The challenges born out of the pandemic were unforeseen, creating uncertainty. However, the crisis drove us to become more agile, adaptive and innovate further. This is a test for resilience, as the landscape created by the pandemic is unpredictable, but it also presents an opportunity to grow. Healthcare is becoming the top priority and many of our customers expect improved outcomes, efficiency, and increased access to solutions, and they are looking for partnerships which address their challenges.

Beckman Coulter is committed to our customers in supporting them through the toughest challenges, we strive to have positive impact as the partner of choice in developing sustainable health care for one patient at a time.

A significant increase in the cases of infectious diseases, combined with a surge in the demand for accurate and timely diagnosis has set in motion the need to innovate solutions within the realm of clinical diagnostics. Clinical laboratory services are highly sought after, especially in the Middle East and Africa region, a result of infectious disease cases which are rising.

COVID-19’s spread has accelerated the demand for testing, shortening the analytical time to accommodate these needs. To supply to the existing demand, GC labs is eyeing further expansion within the Middle and showcasing its transformative solutions in the 2022 edition of Medlab Middle East from January 24^th to 27^th . “Smart labs” is one of the concepts exhibited by the clinical laboratory that provides an automated test system to improve speed and efficiency of tests, allowing the company to report results in just a day or two.

Related: GC Group participates in IFCC WorldLab Seoul 2022 as a platinum sponsor

GC labs are also hosting a seminar titled Public Private Transformation that will lead key discussions about the necessity of technological integrations within diagnostics and the lab.

We spoke to Sean Hwang, Director of Strategy at GC to discuss why modern day laboratory relies on technology and innovation and how it will shape the future of diagnostics.

There has been a demand for genetics and infectious disease tests in the region, can you tell us more how this and how it prompted GC labs to further expand in the Middle East?

Related: Korea’s GC Labs announces plans to expand in the Middle East ahead of their participation in Medlab Middle East 2022

Globally, there has been a growing demand for genetics and infectious disease tests, especially in the Middle East region. GC labs has a specialised genetic testing unit, which has the human molecular genetics department and cytogenetics department. For infectious disease, we have the molecular or microbial biology department, where we perform infectious disease testing for COVID-19.

The smart lab concept is truly a step forward, can you elaborate on the tech aspect and why its necessary to innovate to align with the new needs and demands of healthcare? Can you also tell us about WASPLab?

Conventional clinical laboratory methods can no longer accommodate the increased demand for testing during the pandemic. Clinical laboratory innovations such as automation of testing, owning the holistic system of whole testing sequence, having a biologistic systems, lab information system are all needs of the present day laboratory.

WASPlab is an automated test system that automatically processes the series of steps from sample receipt to inoculation, culture, and interpretation. This was first introduced in Korea and would go on to drastically improve the speed and efficiency in microbiology testing service.

GC labs is hosting the seminar Public-Private Partnership in Global Health: bringing the best of both worlds to improve testing at Medlab, with an impressive line-up – can you tell us more about this seminar and its aim?

GC lab will host our own seminar titled Public- Private Partnerships in Global Health, bringing the best of both worlds to improve testing on 25th of January at the Medlab. The line-up includes globally renowned specialists such as Lelio Marmora, former CEO in Unitaid;  Pr. Michel Kazatchkine, former executive director the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB and Malaria; Dr. Eskild Petersen, MD, Editor-in-chief of IJID Regions, an official journal of the International Society for Infectious Diseases (ISID); Dr. Amina Al-Jardani, Director of Central Public Health Laboratories (CPHL), Directorate General for Disease Surveillance and Control, Ministry of Health, Oman; and Eun-hee Lee, President at GC Labs. The aim of the seminar is to spark an interactive session where key insights are exchanged.

Labs all over the world have undergone tremendous challenges, and have played a vital role in the battle against COVID-19 and other infectious diseases, what have we learned from a diagnostics point of view?

Historically, public international organisations by governments have managed past pandemics, however presently the public sector needs more support from companies in the private sector such as GC labs, private clinics, or private clinical laboratories.

To drive pandemic management, by executing COVID-19 testing services and research and development, this integration is key. Therefore, public, and private sectors need to work closely together to ensure that in the future there can be a system in place for managing a pandemic.

What are the best practices in clinical diagnostics presently and what does the future for diagnostics?

In Korea there has been relative success in COVID-19 control. Companies like GC labs have made a very quick turnaround, increasing in testing capacity of COVID-19. Together with the system and working with the CDC, Korea has relatively maintained the level of COVID-19 management incorporating innovative diagnostics which is fuelling the future of the lab.

There's more sophisticated testing, together with some regional differentiation in diagnostic. This integrated, large scale diagnostic laboratory would have more opportunity to expand not only domestically, but also in global operation.

What will GC labs be showcasing at Medlab?

Our GC virtual tour at Medlab shows our laboratory’s automated testing service. We offer a short analytical time compared to the other labs, and another project presently under development is using AI for accurate, rapid testing and reducing error rate.

These types of innovative approaches will continue to help us evolve. From a perspective of automation, we are now focused on automated systems as they logically reduce error rate versus manual systems. AI technology applies well to clinical diagnostics, and this will reflect in accurate testing and reduced analytical time.

How vital is the Middle East market for diagnostics presently?

We are physically participating at Medlab for the first time since 2018, over this five-year span, GC labs has expanded its global presence in Middle East. We are operating in the UAE and Saudi Arabia and are planning on further expansion in the Middle East. The Middle East is an important market for various industries, not only healthcare hence it is receiving internal recognition and attention.

Now more than ever, sustainability is critical to our operating business landscapes. 78 per cent of consumers have expressed that they want pharmaceutical companies to deliver further CSR activities. 

A strong purpose is at the heart of all our ongoing efforts in healthcare as businesses. It holds us accountable to our commitments towards our communities.  At Bayer, we are guided by our purpose “Science for a better life,” to deliver breakthrough innovations in the field of health and nutrition. Our vision “Health for all, Hunger for none” articulates what we constantly strive to achieve.  Our purpose and vision are key to what we do at Bayer, but they are meaningless if they are not followed by tangible actions to create long-term change and societal progress. 

Related: Building sustainable healthcare systems essential for crisis

This vital approach to our industry is a major step toward breaking the cycle of poverty and conserving our environments – both for individuals and for the countries where they live. To achieve this, we must stay committed to innovation in healthcare.  

Creating a long-lasting impact for our environment and why it matters 

Access to enhanced healthcare has significant implications for local communities. Better healthcare is proven to improve attendance and performance in schools, enhance economic conditions and productivity, and reduce overall healthcare and living costs.  

Related: The importance of accessible and sustainable healthcare

At least half the world’s population currently has no access to basic health services. By investing in health and well-being services, we are making an important contribution to even improving the health, rights and economic status of our people, no matter where they are in the world. This is a fundamental basis for greater equality, education, and prosperity for all. Contributing to sustainable development is a core element of Bayer’s corporate strategy and of our core values. In this context, we have defined clear targets for our businesses that we are aiming to achieve by 2030, in line with the UN SDGs.  

Henrik Wulff, Managing Director, Senior Bayer Representative and Head of Pharmaceuticals at Bayer Middle East FZ 

The global commitment to carbon reduction 

Climate change also affects us all and is one of the greatest challenges that humankind will face in the future. Bayer considers climate protection and the related reduction of greenhouse gas emissions to be a top priority. We anticipate that our business areas of healthcare and agriculture will be impacted by climate change but will also be part of the solution. Globally, the company is aiming to become carbon-neutral in its own operations by 2030.  

To accomplish this, Bayer is committed to mitigate climate change and limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius in line with the Paris Agreement. We have set ourselves a Science Based Target to decarbonize and a net zero target including our supply chain for 2050. We are looking to achieve this with an absolute reduction of 42 percent in our emissions (scope 1 and 2) by 2030. We included making our own sites climate-neutral in our Group targets to be met by 2030. To achieve this, we are about to implement a number of measures focusing on energy efficiency, energy sources, offsetting and the value chain. Between 2020 and 2030, we will be investing EUR 500 million to improve energy efficiency in our own plants. 

By 2030, the remaining emissions will be fully offset by purchasing certificates from verified climate protection projects, especially in the areas of forest conservation and agriculture. When selecting projects, we pay particular attention to ensuring they enable long-term CO2 capture (permanence) and would not take place without the sale of certificates (additionality). Furthermore, we have introduced additional in-house quality requirements, such as certifying projects according to internationally recognized standards. 

The world we live in and the current social sustainability landscape in the Middle East 

The COVID-19 pandemic has been one of the unprecedented challenges of our time, challenging livelihoods, and the health of millions globally. In the Middle East, we have seen in Lebanon an increased problem of escalation of infection rates amid the crippling economic crisis. The Lebanese community is already facing several socio-economic challenges following the 2020 Beirut blast and civil unrest.    

We are working with partners to revolutionize the standard of healthcare. We have engaged with Sonaa El Kheir and the German Red Cross – non-profit charitable organizations – to realize the goal of transforming lives. Through these various initiatives in 2020-2021, we were able to reach out to vulnerable communities across Egypt and Lebanon with various public health services, Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and immediate response COVID-19 protection packs, in time of dire need with the onset of the pandemic. The program targeted around 850,000 people, encompassing some of the most vulnerable Lebanese and Syrian communities.  

We are grateful to have had the opportunity to support an organization such as the Red Cross. Through them, we are able to leverage regional cooperation, which has been integral during this pandemic to provide necessary public health services in Lebanon. Together we have been able to respond to the current critical health needs to achieve a shared vision of improving public health.   

How healthcare is supporting communities and mitigating exponential population growth 

Societal structure in the Middle East is changing, citizens are moving to cities from more rural areas and the population is growing in size. This is causing immense pressure on local economies and the healthcare systems as new generations emerge, which we need to provide support for.  

Another notable example of this is Egypt, where the population has reached 102,170,000 people, with one birth happening every 14 seconds - the eighth highest birth rate in the world. For this reason, we have recently embarked on a strategic partnership with the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) in Egypt for a Corporate Giving & Sustainability Initiative in the focus area of family planning and reproductive health. In total, the supported program will target in the period of 2021-2025 to provide 200,000 women to receive family planning methods and 300,000 women to be reached with awareness messages and services during the campaign. 

Improving sustainable health for future generations 

A fundamental part of materializing our vision is about enabling and strengthening healthcare in our region involves working to make tangible and sustainable impacts in our communities. Bayer Middle East is honored to play a role in supporting these public health initiatives to help our communities – no matter of their location.  

Today, maybe more than ever before, progress and growth cannot be achieved without sustainable efforts. Our active collaboration with key partners helps us extend our reach and impact while empowering advancement in creating a holistic aid approach, focused on awareness and tangible actions.  We strive to continue our commitment towards playing a vital role in helping our communities improve health states, by embracing opportunities and crafting initiatives that support broader public health efforts.  

Through our targeted initiatives, we are grateful to have the opportunity to assist communities in need across the region, responding to the critical public health needs.  

Parenthood is perhaps one of the most significant transitions in one’s life bringing emotional, financial, and physical challenges. If you’re a couple planning to extend your family, then the cost related to pregnancy in Dubai, including prenatal and postnatal care, can be anywhere between AED 20,000 to AED 30,000 (depending on the type of delivery). A comprehensive maternity insurance policy will cover the end-to-end costs of your pregnancy and delivery including everything from routine tests, ultrasounds, medical consultations, and hospitalisation.

While the cost of healthcare is exorbitant globally, residents in Dubai were earlier finding it difficult to search for an affordable maternity plan. ‌Thankully, then came the Dubai Health Insurance’s Law No. 11 of 2013, all parts of which came into effect by the end of June 2016. This DHA reform made it mandatory for all the employers to provide health insurance with maternity benefits to all UAE residents. This also included employees’ dependents so it relatively became easier for UAE residents to get good maternity benefits.

Related: Quality care, safety for pregnant women main concerns during pandemic

There are different maternity benefits provided by each health insurance policy. Thus, it’s crucial for you to be aware of these benefits while getting your policy.

Pre-natal care

Prenatal care means regular check-ups at the gynecologist/obstetrician before childbirth to ensure the good health of the mother and the baby throughout the prenatal period. Before the DHA reform, insurance companies would only cover a few doctor visits, tests, and scans. Now every health insurance plan with maternity benefits should cover eight prenatal appointments with the gynecologist, and three prenatal scans, also including any basic blood tests, with a maximum co-payment rate of 10 per cent.

Hospital Stay & Childbirth

Related: Study reveals early molecular signs of pregnancy

Insurers cover most of the costs associated with a hospital stay, childbirth procedures, and the costs that accompany such services. The DHA requires coverage of up to AED 7,000 for normal delivery and AED 10,000 for medically necessary C-sections, including a 10 per cent co-payment. This delivery cost may vary depending on the hospitals, ranging from  AED 2,000 to AED 14,000 without any complications. Thus, it is important to know the hospital’s costs while considering which health insurance policy to buy, and what can give you the most coverage.

Neo-natal care

Another type of maternity insurance benefit is newborn care. According to the DHA’s reform, medical insurance companies need to provide cover for infants for the first 30 days after they are born. Some premium policies even extend the coverage period to 3 months after birth. This form of cover is in the instance of complications arising for the baby following the birth.

Moratorium or Waiting period

While the DHA hasn’t set any regulations concerning  the waiting periods, insurance companies call for a wait of anywhere between 6 to 12 months before a claim can be made on an existing maternity cover. While the competition in the insurance industry is growing, many companies have chosen to skip the waiting period. This makes instant claims possible. But, this needs to be made sure that claim would be granted if the insured is not pregnant at the time of applying the policy.

Additionally, do not forget that health insurance maternity cover comes with certain conditions as well, like maternity cover is provided up to a certain age limit which is clearly mentioned in the policy. Also, voluntary termination of pregnancy, multiple births, and voluntary C-section are generally excluded from the cover.

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