The Department of Health – Abu Dhabi (DoH) has announced the introduction of a licensing framework to establish Healthy Longevity Medicine Centres (HLMCs). The initiative, the first of its kind globally, aims to enable the centres to provide a wide range of services, promoting wellness, longevity, and disease prevention. The centres will leverage patients’ data available through multiple platforms and programmes including Malaffi and Ifhas to design a personalised journey to advance their health.
The introduction of HLMCs aligns with the DoH’s commitment of shifting from a traditional, reactive approach to healthcare – focused primarily on treating illnesses – to a proactive model that prioritises holistic health and wellness. The HLMCs will support the DoH’s efforts to build a resilient healthcare system while fostering innovative healthcare delivery and a dynamic life sciences ecosystem in the emirate.
The HLMCs aims to empower communities to adopt healthier lifestyles by offering a combination of preventative and therapeutic medical practices. HLMCs will offer collaborative treatment tailored to the patient’s goals and clinical advice. The centres will be equipped to address various aspects of care, including lifestyle, medications and therapeutics, mental well-being, social and environmental factors. This includes diagnostic and interventional services designed to prevent and treat age-related conditions, enhance physical fitness, improve rehabilitation outcomes, and restore health for those with illness or disability.
Her Excellency Dr Noura Khamis Al Ghaithi, Undersecretary of the DoH, said: “We remain committed to providing our community with best-in-class care, leveraging Abu Dhabi’s robust infrastructure and advanced healthcare ecosystem. Today’s announcement marks a significant milestone as we continue our transition from a reactive to a proactive healthcare model that places disease prevention at its core. With access to comprehensive data from programmes such as Malaffi and Ifhas, we are better equipped to understand the health needs of our population and promote healthier living.”
Dr Rashed Obaid Al Suwaidi, Executive Director of Healthcare Workforce Planning Sector at DoH, said: “DoH continues to advance its pioneering regulatory framework, setting new benchmarks in healthcare. We have developed comprehensive world-class standards for Healthy Longevity Medicine Centres, outlining the minimum service requirements. I invite current and prospective investors to collaborate with us and contribute to the availability of Healthy Longevity Medicine Centres across all healthcare facilities in the emirate.”
As part of the standards for the Healthy Longevity Medicine Centres, the department is also developing new licensing and qualification requirements for health coaches, lifestyle medicine and exercise physiologists to ensure a multidisciplinary approach to care.
