Dept. of Health Partners with Microsoft to Boost Healthcare

During GITEX Global Week 2023, the Department of Health – Abu Dhabi (DoH), the regulatory body overseeing healthcare in Abu Dhabi, sealed a partnership with Microsoft to advance the use of generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the healthcare sector. This collaboration, facilitated by a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), aims to explore the potential of harnessing leading AI platforms to drive innovation in healthcare. Their goals include enhancing patient outcomes, increasing operational efficiency, and advancing health research and services.

The MoU was formally executed by H.E. Dr. Ahmed AlKhazraji, Executive Director of Strategy and Policy at the Department of Health – Abu Dhabi (DoH), and Naim Yazbeck, the General Manager of Microsoft UAE.

Under this agreement, both entities will establish a collaborative working group. This group’s purpose is to foster communication and cooperation for the development and deployment of AI technologies. It will involve the exchange of best practices, shared experiences, and addressing potential challenges and obstacles that may arise from AI implementation. The ultimate objective is to establish a long-term partnership to use AI solutions for enhancing DoH’s capabilities, improving patient and clinician experiences, and elevating outcomes in the healthcare sector.

H.E. Dr. Ahmed AlKhazraji, Executive Director of Strategy and Policy at the Department of Health – Abu Dhabi (DoH), emphasized the department’s commitment to leveraging advanced technologies and digital solutions to improve patient outcomes. He stressed that AI plays a central role in healthcare innovation and expressed the importance of collaborating with industry leader Microsoft to explore AI’s potential in healthcare, aiming to pave the way for a future driven by innovation. The DoH’s mission is to position Abu Dhabi as a leader in healthcare quality and services and to advance critical research for the benefit of the entire community.

This partnership will also investigate the implementation of an employee experience platform to gather real-time insights, promoting smarter working, enhanced performance, and an improved workplace culture at the Department of Health (DoH).

Naim Yazbeck, General Manager for Microsoft UAE, expressed Microsoft’s pride in being a long-term partner in the UAE’s digital transformation journey. He acknowledged the UAE government’s early recognition of digital transformation’s importance in accelerating healthcare sector growth and improving healthcare services’ quality in the region. He highlighted the collaboration with DoH as a means to support the UAE’s vision of leveraging cutting-edge technologies like generative AI to address key challenges, foster innovation, and enhance productivity in critical sectors.

This agreement is expected to offer numerous opportunities for cross-industry knowledge exchange, particularly regarding generative AI technologies in healthcare. AI has the potential to support decision-making in the healthcare sector by identifying areas of concern and predicting the impact of new regulations and policies. The DoH remains committed to preserving data integrity and privacy as it explores integrating advanced solutions to enhance healthcare services in Abu Dhabi.

The Department of Health – Abu Dhabi (DoH) welcomes visitors to its exhibition booth to showcase the latest healthcare technologies and innovations in Abu Dhabi’s healthcare sector. The DoH’s participation is part of the unified effort under the Abu Dhabi Digital Authority (ADDA) and can be found in Sheikh Saeed Hall, Hall 19/B20 from October 16, 2023, to October 20, 2023.

For more information about DoH’s participation in GITEX Global Week 2023, please visit www.doh.gov.ae/en/news.