Abu dhabi: The UAE ranks first globally in health outreach programmes, community participation in health policy, and wellbeing promotion, according to the newly launched Health Inclusivity Index, developed by Haleon in partnership with Economist Impact. The findings were unveiled at a high-level panel discussion in Abu Dhabi hosted 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.'
According to Emirates News Agency, the event convened senior leadership across 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 Vice President Clinical Innovation, Daman; Paul Downey, General Manager, Abu Dhabi Biobank; and Gerard Dunleavy, Senior Consultant, Economist Impact, Health Policy. The Index benchmarks 40 countries across 58 indicators, evaluating their performance in health literacy, outreach, inclusion, and equity.
The UAE ranked among the top performers, highlighting its global leadership in inclusive and preventative healthcare. The UAE is among the top five countries globally for person-centred healthcare and second for inclusive health system implementation. The UAE ranks tenth globally in health literacy, with levels increasing by 30% over the past three years. This outcome reflects the ongoing growth of public awareness as well as expanded outreach, enhanced access, and strategic cross-sectoral partnerships.
The Index also highlights the impact of inclusive health models that remove systemic barriers, especially for women, low-income individuals, adults over 50, and those with low health literacy, on economic resilience. Reducing low health literacy by 25% in the UAE could generate $2.3 billion annually in healthcare savings for the nation. Moreover, low health literacy is associated with 2.8 times higher health costs per person, emphasising the importance of targeted interventions.
Enhancing oral health could save $572 million in lifetime costs related to tooth decay. Over 8.2 million working hours are lost every year due to tooth decay and healthcare issues that arise from it, incurring over $175 million per year in productivity losses. Addressing anaemia among women of reproductive age, currently affecting 24.3%, could save $336 million annually in healthcare costs. Additionally, improved gum disease management could also reduce costs related to Type 2 diabetes by over $809 million over a decade.
Dr. Omniyat Al Hajeri stated that Abu Dhabi Public Health Centre is committed to building inclusive, prevention-led systems that empower individuals and protect communities. Bradley Jones highlighted the role of the UAE-UK Business Council in fostering collaboration, while Arda Arat emphasized the Index as a call to action. Paul Downey noted the importance of health literacy in shaping the future of healthcare, and Gerard Dunleavy pointed out the economic benefits of tackling systemic health inequalities.
The launch of the Health Inclusivity Index marks the start of a multi-phase effort to embed health inclusivity and literacy into systems, strategies, and lived experiences across the region.