Healthcare

At the 50th edition of the Arab Health Exhibition, global healthcare leaders and policymakers convened to address the systemic challenges women continue to face in healthcare. The panel titled "Advancing Healthcare for Women in the Middle East and North Africa" was hosted by Mass General Brigham, a world-class academic healthcare system.

The esteemed panel featured distinguished speakers such as Her Excellency Dr. Maryam Matar, Founder and Chairperson of the UAE Genetic Diseases Association, Dr. Nawal Nour, Chair of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Mass General Brigham, Farouk Shamas Jiwa, Director of Government Relations and Communications at Organon, and Dr. Kalthoom Alblooshi, Director of the Training and Development Center at Emirates Health Services.

The UAE’s allocation of AED 5.745 billion (8% of the federal budget) in 2025 to community healthcare and prevention initiatives underscores the country’s commitment to advancing women’s health. This follows the Cabinet's 2024 adoption of the National Policy for Improving Women’s Health, which aims to ensure women have access to comprehensive healthcare. This initiative provided a powerful backdrop for discussions at the event, highlighting the need for continued collaboration in the region.

Her Excellency Dr. Maryam Matar opened the discussion by emphasizing the UAE’s progressive policies in prioritizing women’s health. “The progress we are seeing in the UAE is a direct result of our leadership’s focus on gender-sensitive reforms,” she stated. “The emphasis must remain on making women’s healthcare universally accessible, high-quality, and tailored to their distinct needs.”

Dr. Nawal Nour highlighted the critical need for more gender-specific healthcare research, stressing, “Women’s health and well-being are integral to the strength of families and societies. It's up to all of us to advance women’s health globally, whether it’s through developing initiatives or contributing to innovative discoveries. Now is the time to invest in women’s health.”

Farouk Shamas Jiwa pointed out the urgent need for greater investment in women’s health research, noting that only 1% of R&D currently addresses female-specific conditions outside oncology. He added, “We must ensure better representation of women in clinical trials to address the different ways diseases manifest in women.”

Dr. Kalthoom Alblooshi emphasized the importance of comprehensive care, including mental health support, to empower women. “By addressing social stigmas that prevent women from accessing timely healthcare, we can ensure holistic, accessible care for all,” she said.

The panel concluded with a call for greater collaboration between governments, healthcare providers, and the pharmaceutical industry to create systems that empower women to take charge of their health. Mass General Brigham reaffirmed its commitment to advancing women’s healthcare through its integrated, multi-specialty care and research-driven approach.

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