DUBAI – With the World Health Organization calling for increased efforts to bring universal healthcare to a greater number of people around the world, the UAE stands out as a clear example of what can be achieved when this policy is implemented successfully. As it marks Universal Health Coverage Day, Expo 2020 Dubai has been chosen as the perfect international platform to highlight this issue and a venue for ideas, innovation and the promotion and investment for this cause.
The UAE is advancing a healthcare agenda that takes care not only of those across the nation, but also contributes towards improving healthcare in countries all around the world, with Expo 2020 Dubai being used as the showcase for many government initiatives aimed at promoting better healthcare.
Celebrating healthcare workers, the Expo 2020 edition of Walk the Talk is an event being staged in the Middle East for the first time. Gathering frontline workers of all ages, backgrounds and abilities together with their families, it aims to make a statement that everyone should have access to the care they need, when they need it. A virtual version of the event is also available on the Steppi app to walk towards the 3 billion steps target. Open to all participants, the application provides a platform for international audience engagement. Steppi acts as a capture mechanism for the steps both at Expo and globally.
The UAE has been highlighted as one of the standout healthcare sectors in the world, earning particular praise for its strong and coordinated response to the pandemic. The Bloomberg Covid Resilience Ranking saw the UAE top the list, up from third place in October, mainly due to its high vaccination rates and robust precautionary measures.
This is set against the backdrop of a strong healthcare system that sees it rank 20th in the World Index of Healthcare Innovation, with an overall score of 45.23, ahead of many other leading economies.
Nadia Verjee, Chief of Staff, Programme for People and Planet, Expo 2020 Dubai, said “Today marks another milestone for Expo 2020 Dubai’s commitment to bring people together and create a better future. The UAE’s resilience during the COVID-19 pandemic, and dedication to improving healthcare globally, has been facilitated by the extraordinary support of our frontline workers, who we are honouring today. We thank them for their professionalism and tireless devotion to their work, which has been a major contribution to the Expo’s success and its legacy.”
Even before it opened its gates on 1 October, Expo 2020 has already had a history of supporting global efforts to improve universal healthcare coverage. Since 2016, the Expo Live Innovation Impact Grant Programme has shortlisted and awarded grants of between USD 100,000 and USD 500,000 to organisations from 76 countries. These are carefully selected to more widely support healthcare around the world. Examples of grantees include GICMED, Cameroon, which aims to reduce breast and cervical cancer death rates in underserved communities that generally lack access to cancer care services.
Expo 2020 has also supported its own workers with the implementation of a far-reaching strategic programme called ‘Better Together’ that focuses on the health and wellbeing of all workers across the site. Led by the Worker Welfare team, working closely with contractors, widespread health-focused programmes have been implemented, including a comprehensive vaccination programme to protect workers during the COVID pandemic.
In addition, the Expo Worker Wellness Programme has been active since October 2017 and monitors workers’ health and wellbeing using Whoop, the high-tech wearable wellness technology. A total of 5,540 workers took part on a voluntary basis in the pilot scheme and the programme focuses on preventive healthcare through monitoring and reporting, treatment and research.
Healthcare is also a way of life in the UAE, with the Dubai Health Authority law mandating that all Dubai companies must provide their employees with a dedicated health insurance plan. The commitment to providing high-quality healthcare to all across the UAE is demonstrated by the country spending USD 1,200 per person on healthcare – putting it in the top 20 countries for healthcare spending per capita.
The UAE is not only taking care to strongly develop its own healthcare systems, but has taken steps to provide support to other countries around the world. To date, the UAE has responded to the COVID-19 crisis by providing over 1,248 metric tons of aid to 92 countries, supporting more than 1 million medical professionals in the process.
By reimagining healthcare and by deploying innovative ideas and cutting-edge technologies, we can move towards a world in which everyone can benefit from appropriate healthcare provision.