A unified GCC health data, which can be accessed by authorised parties including health workers in the six Gulf states, was highlighted at a key forum in the UAE.
Supreme Council for Health project director Shaikh Khalid bin Hamad Al Khalifa spoke on the issue at the Digital Health and Artificial Intelligence Forum as part of Arab Health 2025 that concluded at the Dubai World Trade Centre yesterday.
The event is the largest healthcare event in the Middle East, featuring more than 3,800 exhibitors from around 70 countries.
It provides a platform for the world’s leading manufacturers, wholesalers and distributors to meet the medical and scientific community in the Middle East and subcontinent.
Shaikh Khalid advocated for a unified system and addressed the complexities of aligning GCC nations on a standardised framework, highlighting data privacy as a key consideration.
“We are witnessing the increased movement of GCC citizens within the region due to significant economic investment,” he said.
“Therefore, having accessible medical data becomes important for GCC citizens wherever they are.
“Healthcare relies heavily on information in the provision of care and having a unified health data framework is the first step to achieving this strategic goal.”
He stressed that such a system must be secure and accessible only to authorised parties, ensuring the protection of sensitive health information while enabling seamless access across borders.
Themed ‘Connected Health Solutions: Unlocking the AI and Digital Health Potential’, the conference was new to Arab Health this year and proved to be a highly engaging forum for healthcare professionals, technologists and innovators.
The forum featured high-level keynote addresses, insightful case studies, interactive panel discussions and TED-style talks centred on the implementation and outcomes of AI-driven solutions.
The GDN last year quoted Health Ministry assistant under-secretary of public health Dr Samia Ali Bahram as saying that unifying e-health records between public and private hospitals was underway as part of efforts to facilitate co-operation between the two sectors.
She said patient health records were separate for public and private facilities, which meant if the individual moved from a public hospital to a private one, for example, the new hospital would not have access to the patient’s records.
By unifying the public and private e-health records, there is no need to request anything or redo any tests, which not only speeds up treatment but also keeps staff updated and enables them to provide quality healthcare, added Dr Bahram.
In October last year, the Health Ministry launched the third National Health Survey in partnership with the Information and eGovernment Authority (iGA).
Covering individuals aged 18 and above, the survey involves a random sample of more than 4,000 households to build a comprehensive health data foundation to support healthcare initiatives and development policies.
The survey process includes calls with randomly selected households to obtain consent and schedule a field researcher visit.
The field visit duration for the health survey will last for six months, from September last year, and may be extended depending on the response rates and sample completion.
During the visit, participants undergo essential medical tests, including blood pressure, pulse rate, vision and blood tests, along with other assessments to accurately evaluate their health status.
It aims to study the community’s health profile and build effective future health strategies.
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