As the Chairman of one of the leading healthcare conglomerates in the Middle East and India, what according to you, are the main factors currently driving the healthcare industry forward, both in the MENA region and globally?

As we kick start 2018, the outlook for the healthcare industry is one of change and growth. Across the board, customers are looking more and more for ‘value’. This is compounded by growing ageing populations in many developed countries across the globe; and simply increasing populations in developing countries. Healthcare providers are looking to evolve and innovate their services in order to be able to deliver more cost-effective, patient-centric care. Advancements in technology, digitalisation within the industry and a move towards smart health will continue to drive the change within the sector globally and in the MENA region.

What current trends do you see specifically in the UAE healthcare industry and what do you see as the growth areas going forward?

Healthcare is now a priority for both public and private sector in the UAE. Things were very different when I started out here in the late 1980s. Healthcare infrastructure in the region was quite basic. Government hospitals provided primary and secondary care, but tertiary care was minimal. Aster DM Healthcare was one of the first private healthcare providers to see an opportunity to meet the local need for personalised medical care. Today private-public-partnerships are ensuring that the UAE is offering international quality medical services. With strong support from the government, the country is emerging as a hub for medical tourism in the region.The UAE Vision 2021, which aims to achieve a world-class healthcare system, is catalyst for the development of the sector. The 10 national key performance indicators dictated by Vision 2021 will address the most pressing health issues in the country, such as cardiovascular disease and the prevalence of diabetes and obesity in the local population.Measures to improve access to healthcare through compulsory insurance coverage will continue to drive affordability and quality standards of care. At the same time, there is great potential for use of technology in integrated healthcare, which will further improve accessibility and reduce costs.

What, according to you, are the main ideas/strategies that will transform the healthcare industry of the future?

The use of technology in healthcare will play a huge role in improving accessibility, increasing efficiency and reducing costs. Secondly, we are moving away from the traditional reactive intervention to more personalised, proactive and preventive health management.

How important is innovation in healthcare? What are the technological, medical and strategic innovations that your company brings to the healthcare arena?

At Aster DM Healthcare, we invest considerable efforts in championing the role of technology in healthcare research and innovation to deliver technological solutions that cater to the fast paced lives of people. We are proud to be the pioneers in introducing new concepts in the region including chronic care monitoring at home, online pharmacy, home-nursing facilities and doctors on call. We will continue to expand our research and innovation capabilities, in order to deliver solutions to meet the needs of our patients.

What is your plan for Arab Health 2018? What products or technology will you be showcasing?

This Arab Health we are focusing on the healthcare retail offerings of Aster DM Healthcare. Aster Pharmacy will have an exclusive stall wherein we shall be focusing on our new services, solutions and product launches.

What is unique or new about your product or service?

Aster pharmacy is the only pharmacy chain in the GCC with an online offering (www.asteronline.com). Likewise, Aster Pharmacy is the first pharmacy with a sophisticated and highly user friendly customer reward program called Aster Secure. Not just that, this year at Arab Health we will also be launching a few new brands at the booth.

As a company closely associated with Arab Health for the past several years, how would you evaluate the impact of the event on the healthcare industry in the MENA region? What, according to you, are the real benefits and opportunities available to healthcare and trade professionals to attend Arab Health?

As one of the largest trade shows for the healthcare sector in the region, Arab Health is a platform that brings together traders, buyers, healthcare professionals, regulators, manufacturers and consumers from all over the world. It is one of the most important events to explore business opportunities, partnerships and more importantly exposure to the latest offerings, services and technologies from across the globe.