Exploring Ways To Improve The Healthcare Landscape In The Middle East
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Roshan Amiri
- . September 13, 2023
- . Update: September 13, 2023 6:39 pm
The Middle East is a diverse region comprising countries with varying economic development, healthcare systems and healthcare infrastructure.
While the region’s healthcare industry has recorded significant growth and transformation over the past few years, it continues to face unique challenges every day.
With an increasing population and evolving healthcare requirements, a number of countries in the Middle East grapple with providing affordable, accessible and high-quality services.
While countries like Saudi Arabia and Kuwait have made significant investments in the sector, some others struggle with insufficient funding and staggering disparities in access.
Read on for a concise insight into the varying challenges the healthcare industry in the Middle East faces and ways to bring further improvements.
Factors Affecting Region’s Healthcare Industry
Through substantial investments, certain countries in the Middle East have brought notable advancements in medical technology, facilities and expertise.
But there are a number of others that have limited resources and lack the necessary infrastructure to meet the evolving healthcare requirements of their populations.
Moreover, healthcare access and quality within and between countries vary starkly. People in rural areas often have limited access to services and the quality differs as well.
Additionally, rapid urbanisation, sedentary lifestyles and changes in dietary habits have lately been increasing the burden on healthcare systems.
In other words, the prevalence of lifestyle-related ailments, such as diabetes, obesity and cardiovascular diseases, is on the rise in the region.
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There is a potentially underrated issue of ‘brain drain’, where the Middle East continues to heftily rely on foreign healthcare professionals, leading to brain drain from its own talent pool.
Ways To Improve Middle East’s Healthcare Landscape
In order to enhance medical facilities, research centres and hospitals, governments and private entities in the region must enhance investments.
Increased funding can improve existing facilities and build new ones where needed. In addition, the local talent must be offered elevated attention to reduce the dependence on expatriates.
For capacity building and talent retention, the Middle East must provide advanced medical education and training opportunities to the locals.
Telemedicine and digital health solutions can enhance healthcare accessibility by enabling remote consultations. People in the rural areas can benefit from the adoption of such services.
As far as accessibility is concerned, reforms in health insurance systems can also help a great deal. Governments can work on comprehensive schemes to enable affordable services.
At last but not the least, the region should priorities preventive initiatives, such as awareness campaigns and nutrition education, to reduce the prevalence of lifestyle-related ailments.
