Abu Dhabi Healthcare Strategic Plan

by Zaara 09, Apr 2021

The United Arab Emirates encourages global buyers to come and grow in the healthcare sector.  This article will take you through the government's Abu Dhabi Healthcare Strategy Programme, and gaining information will allow you to invest intelligently. 

Known as the second-most populous city in the United Arab Emirates, the Emirate has been one of the prominent investment destinations for worldwide investors. It is the second-largest Emirate in the region, covering a population of 1.45 million. 

The region has successfully transformed itself from an oil-based economy to a non-oil based. One such upcoming business domain turns out to be Medical Tourism.

An Initiative by the Department of Health, Abu Dhabi

As the region is on its way to expanding its horizon for the business industries, a recent initiative has been taken towards the medical tourism industry. This will bring collaboration in multiple areas of markets covering GCC, MENA, Russia, China, and India. 

The investment has also boosted the opportunities for business investors who are looking forward to an opportunity to start a business in Abu Dhabi. The continuous cooperation between the government and private companies will drastically impact establishing the Emirate as an international medical hub.

Further, the initiative aims to attract patients from more than 80 countries and drive its market as a global key player in the medical tourism industry. 

The Strategic Plan by the Abu Dhabi Health Authority

The new strategic plan includes six primary objectives, fifteen programs, and ninety-three initiatives. The five-year strategy is an incredible challenge for the Emirate to turn itself into an international medical center. 

The overall plan was implemented by talented people, including the Healthcare Authority staff, executives, and founders of pharmaceutical firms and insurance agencies. Also, recruiting top-quality doctors and providing various specialty facilities are part of a global initiative. 

In addition to a priority on eHealth, HAAD’s five-year healthcare strategy includes the following priorities:

  • Increasing access along the continuum of healthcare
  • Improving the quality of healthcare
  • Attracting and retaining employees of quality healthcare experts
  • Enhancing emergency preparedness
  • Promoting wellness and prevention
  • Ensuring cost-effectiveness.

Abu Dhabi Health Services Promoting Medical Tourism

The medical tourism market is one of the booming markets prevailing in the global scenario. Every year it is growing with a spike of 15 to 20 percent. 

According to Grand View Research, the industry is expected to hold a $179.6 billion value by 2026. Abu Dhabi is also gearing up for the race. Apart from the above collaboration, the Department of Culture and Tourism has signed a memorandum with the Medical Tourism Association (MTA) to providers and the government to create successful medical tourism programs. 

Regarding UAE, investors prefer to invest in this location because of the following advantages of setting up a business in Abu Dhabi.

100 Percent Repatriation of Capital Invested and Profits Earned

The Emirate provides enough flexibility for the investors to take back the total capital and profits in the extreme case of company liquidation. This means that you will be completely free and don’t have to worry about any tax that must be paid on the profits earned.

2. Complete Income Tax Exemption

The next driving factor that encourages business owners to come ahead and invest in Abu Dhabi is the entire tax exemption that the country provides to global investors. The UAE has implemented the VAT concept, fixed at a rate of 5%. 

Apart from that, you don’t have to pay any tax on your income throughout a business cycle.

3. An International Exposure

By incorporating a business here, you get a better option to place your company in the international market. The region holds robust connectivity with the other Emirates along with international boundaries. 

Additionally, the location of Abu Dhabi contains different zones like Mainland and Free Zone that allow business owners to come ahead in the zones depending upon their investment flexibility.

Core Focused Areas for an Abu Dhabi Health Services Company

According to the set objectives, the government has targeted eleven core areas.

1. Care Model Innovation

In the healthcare industry, the healthcare model has been built to rely more on strategies. The focus lies on:

  • Telemedical solutions implementation
  • Strategy formulation and addressing the demands of select patients
  • Innovative technologies in pharmacy
  • Improve your home and remote treatment
  • Grow the pharmaceutical industry
  • Improvisation of recovery centers
  • Innovate long-term care delivery.

It is a tremendous challenge to manage a country's above-stated needs. These parameters have also opened up doors for industry and engineering freaks, searching for new ways to lay a foundation on a global forum for their technological advancements.

2. Prevention and Wellbeing Lifestyle

When it comes to prevention and healthcare, the primary focus is on:

  • Developing policies and recommendations on prevention for the general population
  • Improving awareness of sanitation in schools
  • Establish and upgrade the country's vaccine program
  • Revamp the program for health education
  • Establish customized profiling of genetics.

3. Safety and Environmental Health

The next step is to improve the health and safety of the public. The following conditions are focused on heading forward on this:

  • Develop workplace health awareness
  • Participate in the production of policies for food and water
  • Participate in the national road safety and planning case
  • Take precautions and measures needed for catastrophe and crisis management.

4. Primary Care

As one of the top priorities, primary care has been emphasized and is committed to strengthening the child's delivery process. New technologies will improve maternal and child welfare and develop a comprehensive emergency response system.

5. Oral and Dental Care/ Mental Health / Management of Chronic Diseases

Awareness campaigns must be created to propagate oral and dental care information. Technology infusion to establish new methods is a way forward to revolutionize the dental protocol.

Similar steps are to be taken to boost the mental health of traditional and prospective patients. New policies in the country should be developed and implemented accordingly.

6. Improving Medical Tourism

Abu Dhabi has become an ideal destination for medical tourists over the years. The Government has taken the requisite measures to improvise medical tourism and looks forward to investing with investors.

7. Creating Centres of Excellence

Ultimately, Abu Dhabi claims that the quality of the facilities offered is superior. The area focuses on excelling on the following grounds to make a fresh transition to the Health Plan and step in to become a global medical hub:

  • Creating Oncology COE
  • Creating Cardiovascular COE
  • Setting up Orthopaedics/ Sports Medicine/ Emergency COE
  • Set up COE Neurology/ Neurosurgery
  • Establishing COE Ophthalmology
  • Promote the practices of a clinical study for relevant CEOs
  • Develop COE specialists' clinical training programs.

8. Government (Regulation and the Distribution of Services)

The service needs to be established to operate on the above-stated proceedings. To build a robust system, the Government takes the following considerations:

  • Revamp and restructure treatment facilities abroad
  • Establish funding for healthcare initiative funding
  • Uplift DHA to win more awards for excellence
  • Transforming the DHA job and engaging it
  • Set up the healthcare governance system for Abu Dhabi.

9. Encouraging Employment and Medical Education

New strategies for facilitating medical research and training young minds have been introduced. It further adds to the development of new avenues for the population to come forward and make their living. 

Steps are being taken to provide medical institutions with world-class facilities.

10. Improving Medical Technology

Medical cooperation with technology has been reflected in several miracles. The Emirati government’s change makes medical science possible to upgrade to the next level, thus providing tremendous business owners tremendous opportunities.

11. Insurance and Funding for Healthcare

Now, you might be wondering if it might end up costing a bomb to start a company. The government has also concentrated on business finance to address the crisis. 

Appropriate steps outlined below have been initiated:

  • Regulate and update health care rates in Abu Dhabi
  • Establish insurance plans for travelers
  • Set up schemes of insurance for medical visitors
  • Provide detection and screening coverage
  • Implement pay-for schemes for results
  • Update the fraud-detection software and enforce it.

Various strategies for improving corporate relationships and developments in the area have been implemented, considered initiatives toward sustainable growth in medical tourism blending Abu Dhabi Vision 2030

Business Opportunities for an Abu Dhabi Health Services Company

Starting a healthcare business can be a tremendous opportunity for investors in Abu Dhabi as the government also brings healthcare-related benefits to businesses. The opportunities for business investment are not limited exclusively to the medical sector. 

You should focus on the following domains as well:

  • Manufacturing of Pharmaceutical Goods
  • Manufacturing of Medical Instruments
  • Starting a healthcare company
  • Opening the Abu Dhabi Medical Store
  • Opening an Insurance Company
  • Company for Transport and Tourism
  • Starting a medical institution.

Establishing a business in Abu Dhabi is a smart option while being unaware of the legal actions might be an issue at the initial start. Having a guide by your side can make the process much easier and faster.

If you plan to incorporate your business into the Emirate, contact us today. We’d be glad to assist.

FAQs

What all are included in the Abu Dhabi healthcare strategic plan?

The new strategic plan includes six primary objectives, fifteen programs, and ninety-three initiatives.

What are HAAD’s priorities?

In addition to a priority on eHealth, HAAD’s five-year healthcare strategy includes the following priorities:

  • Increasing access along the continuum of healthcare
  • Improving the quality of healthcare
  • Attracting and retaining employees of quality healthcare experts
  • Enhancing emergency preparedness
  • Promoting wellness and prevention
  • Ensuring cost-effectiveness.

What is the estimated value for the medical tourism market?

According to Grand View Research, the industry is expected to hold a $179.6 billion value by 2026.

What are the focusing conditions for improving the health and safety of the public?

The following conditions are focused on heading forward on this:

  • Develop workplace health awareness
  • Participate in the production of policies for food and water
  • Participate in the national road safety and planning case
  • Take precautions and measures needed for catastrophe and crisis management.

What are the business opportunities for an Abu Dhabi health services company?

The opportunities are as follows:

  • Manufacturing of Pharmaceutical Goods
  • Manufacturing of Medical Instruments
  • Starting a healthcare company
  • Opening the Abu Dhabi Medical Store
  • Opening an Insurance Company
  • Company for Transport and Tourism
  • Starting a medical institution.