During Abu Dhabi Global Healthcare Week (ADGHW), the Department of Health – Abu Dhabi (DoH), the regulator of the emirate’s healthcare sector, signed an agreement with Abu Dhabi Health Data Services (ADHDS), part of M42 Group and global biopharmaceutical company AstraZeneca. The entities will collaborate to leverage real-world data to develop the UAE’s first Breast Cancer Quality Improvement Programme (QiP) and Research Platform, accelerating progress in the fight against breast cancer. The Breast Cancer QIP and Research Platform seeks to significantly improve breast cancer diagnosis and treatment strategies through innovative research using clinical analysis.
In the presence of His Excellency Mansoor Ibrahim Al Mansoori, Chairman of DoH, Michel Demare, Chair of the Board at AstraZeneca, Hasan Jasem Al Nowais, Managing Director, and Group Chief Executive Officer of M42, the agreement was signed by Her Excellency Dr Noura Al Ghaithi, Undersecretary of DoH, Kareem Shahin, CEO of ADHDS and Sameh ElFangary, Cluster President – GCC and Pakistan at AstraZeneca.
Her Excellency Dr Noura Al Ghaithi, Undersecretary of DoH, said: "Launching the Breast Cancer Quality Improvement Programme and Research Platform at Abu Dhabi Global Healthcare Week, further solidifies the department’s ongoing efforts to raise public awareness on the most pressing healthcare topics and ensure the population’s health and longevity within the emirate and beyond. This MoU reflects our dedication to implementing comprehensive programmes focused on prevention, early detection, and advanced treatments. Through collaborating with our strategic partners, AstraZeneca and Abu Dhabi Health Data Services, we aim to alleviate the impact of breast cancer and make good health and quality care a universal standard.”
Kareem Shahin, CEO of ADHDS said: “We are excited to join forces with AstraZeneca under the leadership of the Department of Health – Abu Dhabi to kick-off this important project that aims to transform breast cancer care globally. The Breast Cancer Research Platform will enable the development of personalised care through innovation in the pursuit of better patient outcomes.”
Sameh ElFangary, AstraZeneca Cluster President – GCC and Pakistan, said: “We are proud to work with Abu Dhabi Health Data Services to unlock what the power of science can do. Breast cancer remains the most common cancer in women worldwide and as the burden of disease continues to mount, identifying and treating cancer early remains key to improving patient outcomes. Our ambition, alongside ADHDS is to collaboratively redefine treatment pathways to someday eliminate cancer as a cause of death.”
Breast cancer poses a significant health challenge for women globally, and the UAE is no exception. Through the agreement, DoH and its strategic partners are committed to harnessing clinical research to further improve breast cancer care and research in the UAE. To enhance patient care and research outcomes, the parties will leverage the emirate’s world-leading healthcare infrastructure to consolidate breast cancer data, real-time care quality tracking, and research infrastructure. Additionally, Malaffi, the first Health Information Exchange (HIE) platform in the MENA region, will play a pivotal role in this initiative through clinical research.
The agreement highlights the demand for collaborative efforts and resource allocation for cancer healthcare in the emirate. The QiP and Research Platform aims to enhance breast cancer care and providing insights for the healthcare community to recognise trends, leading to improved treatment outcomes.
The platform serves as a testament to DoH’s commitment in positioning the emirate as a global life sciences hub and an incubator for responsible healthcare innovation. Through the initiative, Abu Dhabi will be the first in the region to offer a dedicated National Quality Improvement tool for long-term breast cancer care, providing researchers, academia and healthcare professionals the opportunity to generate a comprehensive list of publications in the field.
Since its launch in 2019, Malaffi has significantly benefited healthcare providers across Abu Dhabi. Through its widespread adoption, the healthcare sector in the emirate continues on a path of innovation and excellence in patient care.
