Health Awards to promote best practices in the UAE’s growing healthcare sector

Health Magazine, the UAE’s only dedicated publication in the healthcare industry, today announced the region’s first comprehensive Health Awards scheme, which will be held on 16^th January 2017 at a glittering gala ceremony in Dubai.

The Health Awards aims to acknowledge and appreciate exceptional contributions in the fields of healthcare from across the region. The awards will publicise and promote significant achievements from across the region, to inspire the young readers to dream big and to embark upon great endeavours. The annual Health Awards scheme will honour many more deserving achievers in the years to come, gradually evolving as an industry benchmark of professional excellence.

A panel of jury will select healthcare professionals and institutions in 20 different categories in the UAE – through a stringent selection process that will highlight quality, dedication and promote best practice in the UAE’s growing healthcare sector.

Health Magazine, part of Thumbay Group, which established the region’s first medical university in the private sector, will exclude all entities and professionals employed by the group – to ensure transparency and fairness in evaluating the nominees.

Launched in 1999, the bi-monthly Health Magazine has been highlighting the sector’s growth and development as well as creating health awareness amongst consumers through 20,000 copies that are distributed in public places and to targeted households.

“The objective of launching Health Awards is to promote best practices across the healthcare industry in the region – where the industry is growing at a double-digit growth due to the mandatory health insurance scheme,” Thumbay Moideen, Founder President of Thumbay Group, which owns the Health Magazine, says.

“With more and more people coming under the mandatory health insurance scheme, it is important to improve quality through best practices so that the patients get fair and quality treatment. Improvement in quality and facilities will also attract international health tourists to seek treatment in the UAE.”

“Health Awards will help create a desire and drive for improving quality services across the industry, by recognizing those who deserve the rewards.”

A recent report on the region’s healthcare sector published by Alpen Capital says, despite a remarkable improvement in the condition of the GCC healthcare system over the last two decades, the accessibility and quality of care at public hospitals and clinics are yet to meet expectations of the citizens. Several local patients in the GCC travel abroad to seek treatment due to lack of specialised care and high cost. The high cost of medical treatments in the GCC and limited super-specialized care in areas such as oncology and cardiology are driving outbound medical tourism.

The Health Awards will influence positive changes in the GCC healthcare market that is projected to grow at a 12.1 per cent CAGR from an estimated US$40.3 billion in 2015 to US$71.3 billion in 2020. An increase in the population and rising cost of treatment are the primary factors aiding growth, according to the research report published in February 2016.

Health Magazine has invited a panel of well-respected professionals from healthcare and media sectors to form the jury panel that includes, Dr. Ajit Nagpal, Chairman of AMITY University (Jury Chairperson), Dr. Mohamed Abdulrazak Nasaif, Training Consultant at the Ministry of Health, Dr. Mouza Al Sharhan, President of EMA, Dr. Abdul Ghaffar Alhawi, Head of the Centre for Advanced Simulation in Healthcare, Dr. Salah Abusnana, Consultant Endocrinologist Medical Director, Rashid Centre for Diabetes and Research, Ms. Khuloud Al Omian, Editor-in-Chief of Forbes Middle East and CEO of Arab Publishing House, Dr. Manvir Singh Walia, Administrative Director for Healthcare at Thumbay Group.

The initiative is part of the group’s vision – Growth Through Innovation – that will drive the change in the industry for the better.