emirates7 - The UAE has secured the top global ranking in health outreach programmes, public participation in health policymaking, and the promotion of wellbeing, according to the newly launched Health Inclusivity Index. This index was developed by Haleon in collaboration with Economist Impact.
The findings were revealed during a high-level panel discussion in Abu Dhabi, jointly organised by Haleon, the UAE-UK Business Council, and Economist Impact, under the theme “From Awareness to Action: Building Healthier Communities Through Self-Care and Literacy.”
The event brought together leaders from government, academia, and the healthcare sector, including Dr. Omniyat Al Hajeri (Executive Director of Community Health Sector, Abu Dhabi Public Health Centre), Arda Arat (General Manager, GNE, Haleon), Dr. Bhawani Bhatnagar (Senior VP of Clinical Innovation, Daman), Paul Downey (General Manager, Abu Dhabi Biobank), and Gerard Dunleavy (Senior Consultant, Economist Impact).
Dr. Al Hajeri opened the discussion, followed by a keynote address from Bradley Jones, Executive Director of the UAE–UK Business Council’s Joint Secretariat, who emphasised the Council’s role in advancing UAE–UK cooperation in healthcare and related sectors.
The Index evaluates 40 countries based on 58 criteria, assessing their performance in areas such as health literacy, accessibility, equity, and outreach.
The UAE emerged as a global leader in inclusive and preventative healthcare. It ranked among the top five for person-centred healthcare and placed second in the implementation of inclusive health systems. Additionally, the country came in tenth in global health literacy, showing a 30% improvement over the past three years—reflecting successful public awareness efforts, wider access to care, and strong cross-sector partnerships.
The report also highlighted the economic and social advantages of inclusive health systems that eliminate structural barriers, especially for women, older adults, low-income populations, and individuals with limited health literacy. Reducing low health literacy by 25% in the UAE could save the country $2.3 billion annually in healthcare costs.
The report linked low health literacy to nearly triple the health costs per person and noted potential savings from specific interventions, including:
$572 million in lifetime savings by improving oral health and reducing tooth decay.
$175 million in annual productivity losses caused by 8.2 million working hours lost due to oral health issues.
$336 million in yearly savings by addressing anaemia among women of reproductive age (currently affecting 24.3%).
$809 million in savings over ten years by improving gum disease management and its link to Type 2 diabetes.
Dr. Al Hajeri reaffirmed Abu Dhabi Public Health Centre’s commitment to inclusive, prevention-based healthcare models that empower people and protect communities, noting the collective effort required to promote health and resilience.
Bradley Jones praised Haleon’s role within the UAE–UK Business Council, noting that this collaboration exemplifies the shared mission to inclusive health systems and transform data insights into real-world benefits for communities.
Arda Arat of Haleon described the Index as both a measurement framework and a call to action, underscoring the UAE’s leadership in promoting outreach and person-focused care as key to national wellbeing and resilience.
Paul Downey highlighted the role of public understanding in inclusive health research, pointing to Abu Dhabi Biobank’s efforts to make future healthcare more representative and data-driven.
Gerard Dunleavy from Economist Impact stressed that health literacy and inclusivity are not only ethical priorities but also economic drivers, leading to lower healthcare spending, stronger workforce participation, and more resilient societies.
The launch of the Health Inclusivity Index represents the beginning of a broader regional initiative to embed health literacy and inclusivity into policies, practices, and everyday life.
The findings were revealed during a high-level panel discussion in Abu Dhabi, jointly organised by Haleon, the UAE-UK Business Council, and Economist Impact, under the theme “From Awareness to Action: Building Healthier Communities Through Self-Care and Literacy.”
The event brought together leaders from government, academia, and the healthcare sector, including Dr. Omniyat Al Hajeri (Executive Director of Community Health Sector, Abu Dhabi Public Health Centre), Arda Arat (General Manager, GNE, Haleon), Dr. Bhawani Bhatnagar (Senior VP of Clinical Innovation, Daman), Paul Downey (General Manager, Abu Dhabi Biobank), and Gerard Dunleavy (Senior Consultant, Economist Impact).
Dr. Al Hajeri opened the discussion, followed by a keynote address from Bradley Jones, Executive Director of the UAE–UK Business Council’s Joint Secretariat, who emphasised the Council’s role in advancing UAE–UK cooperation in healthcare and related sectors.
The Index evaluates 40 countries based on 58 criteria, assessing their performance in areas such as health literacy, accessibility, equity, and outreach.
The UAE emerged as a global leader in inclusive and preventative healthcare. It ranked among the top five for person-centred healthcare and placed second in the implementation of inclusive health systems. Additionally, the country came in tenth in global health literacy, showing a 30% improvement over the past three years—reflecting successful public awareness efforts, wider access to care, and strong cross-sector partnerships.
The report also highlighted the economic and social advantages of inclusive health systems that eliminate structural barriers, especially for women, older adults, low-income populations, and individuals with limited health literacy. Reducing low health literacy by 25% in the UAE could save the country $2.3 billion annually in healthcare costs.
The report linked low health literacy to nearly triple the health costs per person and noted potential savings from specific interventions, including:
$572 million in lifetime savings by improving oral health and reducing tooth decay.
$175 million in annual productivity losses caused by 8.2 million working hours lost due to oral health issues.
$336 million in yearly savings by addressing anaemia among women of reproductive age (currently affecting 24.3%).
$809 million in savings over ten years by improving gum disease management and its link to Type 2 diabetes.
Dr. Al Hajeri reaffirmed Abu Dhabi Public Health Centre’s commitment to inclusive, prevention-based healthcare models that empower people and protect communities, noting the collective effort required to promote health and resilience.
Bradley Jones praised Haleon’s role within the UAE–UK Business Council, noting that this collaboration exemplifies the shared mission to inclusive health systems and transform data insights into real-world benefits for communities.
Arda Arat of Haleon described the Index as both a measurement framework and a call to action, underscoring the UAE’s leadership in promoting outreach and person-focused care as key to national wellbeing and resilience.
Paul Downey highlighted the role of public understanding in inclusive health research, pointing to Abu Dhabi Biobank’s efforts to make future healthcare more representative and data-driven.
Gerard Dunleavy from Economist Impact stressed that health literacy and inclusivity are not only ethical priorities but also economic drivers, leading to lower healthcare spending, stronger workforce participation, and more resilient societies.
The launch of the Health Inclusivity Index represents the beginning of a broader regional initiative to embed health literacy and inclusivity into policies, practices, and everyday life.