SARA ALZAABI (ABU DHABI)
Healthcare is now more about predicting illness before it begins and reducing risks before they become serious conditions. This approach has permeated through healthcare systems in the country and worldwide.
This World Health Day, marked every year on April 7, the focus is on harnessing the wonders of science to protect life. On the ground, that means bringing accurate, reliable data, cutting-edge innovations, and advanced technologies to drive a growing shift toward prevention.
In the UAE, experts from different quarters of the health ecosystem are seeing how a proactive mindset is making communities move more regularly, eat healthier, and listen to their bodies more closely.
Dr Abdulla Hamed Kazim, Quality Consultant at pre-hospital care provider Response Plus Medical (RPM), emphasised that prevention begins with simple, consistent daily habits that can transform long-term health outcomes. "These foundational habits are at the core of lifestyle medicine," he said.
Even from a health insurer's perspective, the mission extends beyond coverage to shaping how people engage with their health over the long term.
Khaled Ateeq Aldhaheri, Chief Executive Officer of Daman, said: "We focus on prevention, early intervention, and empowering individuals with the insights and access they need to make informed decisions."
He said that in the UAE, this approach is supported by community initiatives that help individuals better understand and manage health risks.
One of Daman's programmes saw about 10,000 people collectively record more than 928 million steps. "This demonstrates how simple, consistent actions can drive meaningful behaviour change, particularly when aligned with national priorities," Aldhaheri said.
"Health is shaped over time through consistent, informed choices, and the earlier people engage with prevention, the stronger their long-term outcomes," he added.
Innovations for Better Health
With more mindful lifestyles now a goal for many, innovations emerge to transform everyday experiences, Dr Kazim pointed out. These include digital health monitors and wearable devices that are changing how individuals see and manage their health.
Technological developments are also enhancing access to care, making it easier for people to integrate good habits into day-to-day activities, almost like a reflex.
Aldhaheri added that digital solutions, data-driven insights, and preventive care models support earlier intervention.
In the case of Daman, this comes in the form of smart platforms and tools that place services and wellbeing programmes just a few taps and clicks away. Innovations like Pura, PureHealth's AI health companion, further support individuals in maintaining healthier routines, he added.
Building More Resilient Systems
Nationwide, significant progress is being made in prioritising prevention and long-term wellbeing, said Tony Terzis, Medical Vice President at Eli Lilly META.
Terzis highlighted that scientific advances are enabling more effective approaches to managing complex conditions like obesity. "This is a pivotal moment, and the UAE is well positioned to lead in shaping a healthier future," he said.
Pedro Matos Rosa, Managing Director of Johnson & Johnson Innovative Medicine, also praised the UAE's leadership in building smarter, more resilient health systems. "The UAE is demonstrating leadership in how health systems can evolve from capacity-driven models to intelligence-led ones," he said.
Rosa added that prioritising data, early diagnosis, and innovation allows for quicker, better-informed decisions. "Investing in prevention, timely intervention is not only about improving patient outcomes, but about building long-term societal and economic resilience."