Middle East Healthcare Sector Aiming To Lead The Global Race: Latessh Jain Sen

Some nations in the region have underfunded healthcare systems, while others can run efficiently on a much larger scale. Many people from all over the globe seek treatment at local hospitals, which have become international destinations in their own right. In Saudi Arabia, both citizens and ex-pats in the government sector are eligible for free medical treatment through the country's healthcare system. The majority of the country's hospitals fall under the purview of the Ministry of Health. The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is well-known for its excellent ophthalmology, dental care, cancer therapy, and cosmetic surgery facilities. Patients come from all over the world to receive treatment there. According to the 2020 Global Index of Hospital Innovation, the United Arab Emirates came in at 22nd position.

Stretching further on such developments, Latessh Jain Sen, A  seasoned healthcare Cost expert and Founder and Group CEO - of Arterial Health Grids stated, “It has served me well to have experience in both the Indian healthcare system and the Middle Eastern healthcare system. As a result, I feel confident in saying that the healthcare infrastructure in the Middle East can be anticipated to expand rapidly in the coming years. It's ripe with possibilities, but it also comes with risks.”

“Since you've asked me to provide an overview, let’s talk about some of the trends we've noticed in the Arab healthcare industry recently. When I say "Middle East," I mean "MENA" (Middle East and North Africa). And I am aware of the sector's tremendous development potential. Even the government strategy for 2030 supports this. Even though, that's a bold claim, the government certainly demonstrated its ability to provide quick, effective, and easily accessible health care during the COVID epidemic. Saudi Arabia is a key player in this area, and the country has developed a bold plan for the year 2030 that prioritizes healthcare reform.”

If a healthcare change strategy is described as "comprehensive," "effective," and "integrated," it indicates that it offers these qualities to its users. As a result, an integrated health system implies that the healthcare system as a whole must be considered.

“So, when I predict what will happen in the future, I predict that health insurance will become more widely available. The United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia have shown positive trends in Arab health or health insurance coverage. Other countries are now working to provide and increase health insurance coverage for most of their populations. Additionally, the rise of internet healthcare is a promising development and that is essential when discussing e-hospitals, e-pharmacies, and telemedicine. Although the market for digital health goods is anticipated to grow to around US$4 billion by 2026, just in Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. As a result, the Middle East is quickly becoming a hotspot for medical tourists, a trend that bodes well for the region's continued progress toward digitalization and the changes it entails. Once primarily focused on Thailand and India, medical tourists are increasingly drawn to other parts of Asia as the Middle East grows in population. Too much money is being put into the medical system's infrastructure. As a result, expansion and widespread implementation are anticipated outcomes,” opined Sen.

Sustainability Will Be Driving The Middle East’s Healthcare Sector

The President of the United Arab Emirates has rightly proclaimed 2023 to be "The Year of Sustainability." Many healthcare organizations are now investing in what is being termed ESG initiatives (environmental, social, and governance). And despite the unprecedented challenge posed by the pandemic, healthcare stakeholders and the government is investing in technology that will improve the health system's capacity for health outcomes and healthcare cost reductions, sustainable solutions, and attract both clinical research development and new patients. A sustainable health system, then, provides both high-quality, cost-effective treatment and minimal environmental damage.

"Out of the 27 years of my career, 20 years I have spent in healthcare. According to my research, between 75% and 80% of healthcare waste may pose significant risks to both the ecosystem and patient safety due to the presence of infectious materials. As a result, garbage management and other resource-intensive processes require close collaboration between government and health administration "said Ms. Sen.

Using a mix of strategies, including the implementation of energy-efficient lighting like LEDs and the optimization of installations and precise systems, the healthcare sector can make efficient use of renewable energy sources like solar, wind, and hydro. To produce clean and renewable energy on-site, hospitals should be encouraged to invest in or partner with renewable energy infrastructure like solar panels and hydropower systems. They will be less reliant on the networks and will still have access to some electricity even when the power goes out.

Therefore, by 2030, just in the UAE, switching to renewable could produce additional net annual savings of approximately US$1–US$3 billion. the positive effects on human and environmental well-being are taken into account. If they can achieve that level of efficiency by 2030, the world could save between US$1.9 and US$2.0 billion per year in fossil fuel savings and energy expense savings from the increased adoption of renewable energy sources. To top it all off, it helps out and accounts for nearly 10% of the total energy production in the nation. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has set a target of a 50-percent-renewable-energy to-50-percent-fossil-fuel energy balance by 2030. Furthermore, if one looks around this area, one’ll notice that green hospital notices are popping up all over the textbooks. The focus is now on encouraging eco-friendly modes of transit, decreasing water consumption, and increasing the use of renewable energy sources. That being the case, progress in this area is lightning-quick.

Obstacles Holding The Sustainable Healthcare Growth 

The coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak altered the status quo, compelling individuals to adjust their lifestyles to account for ever-evolving circumstances. The pandemic also necessitated extensive, fundamental changes in the healthcare industry, from operations and supply chains to customer involvement and future strategies. The position of CFOs is expanding as healthcare moves away from a reliance on inpatient hospital revenue. CFOs say that digital technologies like virtual health (68%) and core technologies like revenue cycle management (57%) are their top areas for capital expenditures.

The world's population is facing significant difficulties as the post-pandemic period begins, particularly as a result of mobility restrictions and the disruption of economic activities, despite critical restraints. It is anticipated that technology will play a significant role in healthcare transformation, and GCC nations have begun utilizing technology to streamline processes, particularly in the areas of digitalization of health records and telemedicine.

“We need to be aware of the issue before we can offer answers. Better the diagnosis, better the treatment: that's my healthcare motto. Therefore, healthcare organizations should first determine the stakeholders, then learn about the priorities and viewpoints of these individuals. They're still way behind, and they're being extremely cautious about wasteful procedures. Moreover, there is a major distinction between expenditure and trash. Accordingly, I propose performing an exact cost analysis, after which you can zero in on the excess and zero in on the answer. So this has three steps, Long term sustainable solution lies in correct identification and proper audits. Just as when we do Activity based costing, we are able to identify the resource utilization on each and every process/ service. And it help in identifying the under utilized resources” opined Sen.

She further added that if you're advocating for long-term sustainability as an answer, you need performance initiatives to boost efficiency and generate steady expansion; rapid but fleeting expansion isn't a viable option. Quality of treatment, customer satisfaction, employee engagement, cost-effectiveness, and revenue growth are all important metrics for any successful business or healthcare organization, so using a balanced scorecard is essential. Therefore, it is crucial to conduct ongoing research, adopting some new cost-saving efficiencies to lessen the financial burden of the inputs. Moreover, regulating the rate of increase in tariffs from time to time. For instance, the Federal Ministry of Health controls the cost and selling prices of medicines, thereby regulating the profit margins on locally listed medications. The key is to strike a healthy equilibrium, and there are a few areas where we might fail to do so.

Government Paving Way For Sustainable Healthcare Domain In The Region

In recent years, The region has been actively investing in renewable energy, particularly solar power. The UAE, for example, is home to the world's largest single-site solar power plant, the Noor Abu Dhabi, which has a capacity of 1.17 GW. Saudi Arabia also has ambitious plans to generate 50% of its electricity from renewables by 2030. Also The region has a long history of water scarcity, and several countries in the region have implemented innovative water conservation measures. Qatar has implemented a "zero-liquid discharge" policy for its desalination plants, which means that all wastewater is treated and reused. The UAE has also implemented several water conservation programs, including a "Green Building Regulations" program that requires all new buildings to meet strict water efficiency standards. And so, the administration is putting in a lot of effort in that regard. However, when discussing the players, and healthcare organizations, one must say that currently, the region is witnessing wonderful and very encouraging efforts by some private players as well, like Aster Healthcare, who have incorporated 10 UN SD SDGs into their operations.  So, their dedication to keeping tabs on and making use of the available resources is truly amazing. Saudi German Hospital , and their commitment to monitor and utilize resources is remarkable.

Mediclinic Middle East, a hospital operator in Abu Dhabi, has signed a clean energy supply agreement with EWEC (Emirates Water and Electricity Company). The agreement will see EWEC’s clean energy sources powering 100 % of the electricity consumption of Mediclinic’s Abu Dhabi hospitals and medical centers for a full operating year. 

The Abu Dhabi Department of Health, for example,  has announced a new sustainability index “Emirald Muashir” to be added to “Muashir”, the Emirate’s healthcare quality index. Following the launch of “Emirald Muashir” healthcare facilities will be granted specific accreditations that showcase their levels of adaptation to the sustainability goals and guidelines. That's why I'm confident in saying that, yes, a sufficient number of projects are available. Dubai's healthcare city initiative to use sustainable materials and design to reduce energy consumption is supported by governments in the Middle East because it is green and efficient. There is only one unified sustainable procurement strategy for hospitals in countries like Jordan. As a result, they promote green shopping and the purchase of eco-friendly goods.

“The Department of Health, Abu Dhabi  has also signed an MOU with the Geneva Sustainability Center to develop programs for healthcare professionals to expand their skills and expertise in the area of sustainability. And they aid in preparation and provide resources. Examine the organizational shifts that need to be made; you probably already know the answer. It's important to have the desire to solve the issue before you can learn about the issue and then move forward with finding a remedy,” commented Sen.

When Ms  Latessh Jain Sen is "off the break," that implies she is totally off the grid, a rare sight, she chooses to spend that time with her loved ones. Also, she thinks it's important to realize the magnitude of mental health problems following COVID, which is why she believes that the best treatment for a healthy mind is talking to close family members.