Dubai, October 9, 2015 – The UAE government is making massive efforts to leverage modern technologies in a bid to develop a world-class healthcare system that falls in line with the country’s Vision 2021. Reflecting the most pressing public health needs of the country, the UAE’s healthcare agenda for 2021 is strongly focused on improving the management and control of non-communicable diseases.

The Internet of Things (IoT) and its accompanying technologies have immense potential to support the UAE in achieving its 2021 healthcare targets, the majority of which are focused on alleviating the growing rates of chronic diseases. The potential application areas for IoT to support the UAE healthcare authorities in achieving these aims cover various levels of care provision and administration, including public health surveillance systems, the monitoring and control of critical health risk factors, the screening and early diagnosis of chronic diseases, and the remote monitoring of patients in outpatient settings.

“The Internet of Things can be viewed as one of the most powerful enablers of patient-centered healthcare in the modern era of connected patients, when healthcare systems are being urged to move from the ‘diagnose and cure’ model to the ‘sense and prevent’ model,” says Nino Giguashvili, IDC Health Insights’ lead research analyst for Central and Eastern Europe, the Middle East, and Africa (CEMA). “Now is the time for the UAE to put IoT to work to accelerate progress toward its healthcare targets for the year 2021.”

In addition to chronic disease control, IoT can be leveraged to support the achievement of the UAE’s 2021 healthcare targets in a number of other areas, including issues related to healthcare workforce and the quality of medical care, via IoT-based systems such as those for monitoring patients in clinical settings (e.g., monitoring patients in intensive care units), managing medical inventory (e.g., asset tracking, predictive maintenance, remote diagnostics of medical devices), monitoring human resources, and delivering remote medical education.

For more detailed information on what IoT technology holds in store for the UAE’s quest for world-class healthcare, please see the IDC Health Insights’ report ‘Internet of Things Essential to UAE’s 2021 Vision for World-Class Healthcare’ (www.idc.com/getdoc.jsp?containerId=EHI06X). The report discusses the opportunities that IoT technology opens up in terms of supporting the UAE government in achieving its vision for world-class healthcare. For further information about this report or to learn more about IDC’s research into the MEA healthcare industry, please contact Anulekha Shetty, IDC’s regional marketing manager, on +971 4 433 2597 or at ashetty@idc.com. 

About IDC Health Insights

IDC Health Insights assists health businesses and IT leaders, as well as the suppliers that serve them, in making more effective technology decisions by providing accurate, timely, and insightful fact-based research and consulting services. Staffed by senior analysts with decades of industry experience, our global research analyzes and advises on business and technology issues facing the payer, provider and life sciences industries. For more information, please visit www.idc-hi.com, email info@idc-hi.com, or visit the IDC Health Insights Community at idc-community.com/health. 

About IDC

International Data Corporation (IDC) is the premier global provider of market intelligence, advisory services, and events for the information technology, telecommunications, and consumer technology markets. IDC helps IT professionals, business executives, and the investment community make fact-based decisions on technology purchases and business strategy. More than 1,000 IDC analysts provide global, regional, and local expertise on technology and industry opportunities and trends in over 110 countries worldwide. For more than 50 years, IDC has provided strategic insights to help our clients achieve their key business objectives. IDC is a subsidiary of IDG, the world’s leading technology media, research, and events company. You can learn more about IDC by visiting www.idc.com.

IDC in the Middle East, Africa, and Turkey

For the Middle East, Africa, and Turkey region, IDC retains a coordinated network of offices in Riyadh, Casablanca, Nairobi, Lagos, Johannesburg, and Istanbul, with a regional center in Dubai.  Our coverage couples local insight with an international perspective to provide a comprehensive understanding of markets in these dynamic regions. Our market intelligence services are unparalleled in depth, consistency, scope, and accuracy. IDC Middle East, Africa, and Turkey currently fields over 130 analysts, consultants, and conference associates across the region.

Contact for Media:

Anahita Guha, Tel: +971 52 674 5338, Email: aguha@golin.ae