Data-sharing in the UAE, and Intellectual Property.
Last January, the UAE witnessed a critical step when the Abu Dhabi Department of Health launched the innovative, first-of-its-kind health information system ‘Malaffi’ to exchange medical information in the emirate.
Providing a central platform designed to facilitate the linkage of various elements within the sector in line with local and federal privacy laws, it aims to ensure the confidentiality and security of patient information,” said Marwan Abdulaziz Janahi, Managing Director of Dubai Science Park.
Marwan Abdulaziz Janahi, Managing Director of Dubai Science Park
Healthcare regulators are now more open to data-sharing, thanks to Malaffi in the UAE, said Dr Osama Ahmed, CEO, TachyHealth. “It has been accelerating and will continue to accelerate. Policymakers and governments have also recognised that healthcare needs to be more strategic to drive a healthy economy.”
A strong IP culture helps to promote medical progress in many ways. It provides incentives to sustain R&D across therapeutic areas. It encourages technology transfer and attracts capital, both local as well as foreign direct investment.
Video: Tachyhealth CEO Dr Osama Ahmed on reinventing healthcare
Together these elements fuel innovation and economic growth while supporting the creation of medicines that save lives. Conversely, inadequate regulatory frameworks for intellectual property rights will fundamentally increase the time it takes to deliver treatments to patients. “The key to facilitating development is a robust regulatory framework that encourages innovation. The key to that framework is questions around the intellectual property or IP protection, which has been an issue in this region in the past,” emphasised Patrick van der Loo, Pfizer’s Regional President for AfME. “Still, I’m very encouraged by what I see from a government perspective who want to make this work. Governments focused on creating these frameworks of quality, safety, efficacy while supporting the development of innovative pharmaceutical products will leverage growth the best. There is a lot of ambition in countries throughout the region, not just in the Gulf but also in North Africa and Sub-Saharan Africa. “Moreover, these goals support the move towards knowledge-based economies rather than brick and mortar-based economies, which will help retain and develop the next generation of talent needed to power the future healthcare industry.
Numerous other trends will help drive growth. This includes collaboration with the wider ecosystem to ensure better patient access, which is very important in Africa, Middle East, and from an industry and customer perspective, and openness to adapt to newer ways to engage with customers.”