UAE Health Economics Expertise Takes Centre Stage at Vienna Conference

Dr Sara Al Dallal represents the Emirates Health Economics Society at ISPOR Europe 2026, contributing to international dialogue on innovative treatments and sustainable healthcare policy

The grand auditorium of Vienna’s conference centre fills with the assembled knowledge of global healthcare systems. Among the speakers shaping this year’s dialogue on the future of medical innovation and health policy stands Dr Sara Al Dallal, President of the Emirates Health Economics Society, bringing the perspective and expertise of the UAE to one of Europe’s most significant health economics forums.

ISPOR Europe 2026 convened in Vienna from 8th to 11th November, drawing together leading experts, specialists and decision-makers from across the world. The conference has long served as a crucible for rigorous discussion about health economics, healthcare policy and the real-world evidence that informs better health outcomes. Within this landscape, the participation of Emirati experts signals the UAE’s deepening engagement with the global scientific community on matters fundamental to modern healthcare.

Dr Al Dallal’s contribution to the conference centred on a session titled “From Value Assessment to Delivery Reality: Integrating HEOR and Health Systems Perspectives in Coverage Decisions for GLP-1 Therapies”. The session explored how health economics and outcomes research, combined with healthcare system perspectives, might reshape the way medical systems approach coverage decisions for glucagon-like peptide-1 treatments. The discussion ranged across treatment initiation and patient follow-up, supply chain forecasting, prescription management, equitable access and the maintenance of sustainable coverage as healthcare systems adapt to innovation.

What emerges from such discussions is the delicate balance that healthcare systems must strike. New medical treatments offer genuine advances in clinical outcomes, yet their implementation must be considered against cost implications, resource constraints and the imperative to ensure fair access across entire populations. Health economics and health technology assessment have become increasingly essential tools for informed decision-making, allowing healthcare systems to marry clinical evidence with fiscal responsibility.

“The conference provides a valuable opportunity to exchange knowledge and experience with international experts and contribute to discussions shaping the future of healthcare systems,” Dr Al Dallal reflected. “Medical innovation needs to go hand in hand with evidence-based healthcare policies that balance better health outcomes, affordability and fair access to treatments for patients.”

Her remarks touch upon a tension that healthcare leaders everywhere recognise. As medical technologies and treatments advance with remarkable speed, systems must evolve equally swiftly to evaluate, integrate and deliver them responsibly. The work of health economics professionals becomes ever more critical in this endeavour, supporting the long-term sustainability of healthcare provision while championing innovations that genuinely serve patients and communities.

The Emirates Health Economics Society’s presence at such forums reflects the UAE’s commitment to engaging with the international scientific community on healthcare policy and outcomes research, much as the nation has hosted significant medical congresses including the 9th Emirates Family Medicine Society Congress in Abu Dhabi, which brought together 1,200 healthcare professionals to advance primary healthcare excellence.

What it means for Abu Dhabi

The participation of Emirati healthcare professionals in international scientific forums strengthens the UAE’s position as a thoughtful contributor to global healthcare discourse. Rather than adopting healthcare policies wholesale from elsewhere, the nation engages critically with international evidence and expertise, shaping approaches suited to the Emirates’ own healthcare priorities and populations.

For the healthcare professionals, policymakers and patients of Abu Dhabi, this engagement translates into benefits. The insights gained at conferences such as ISPOR Europe inform local healthcare decision-making, ensuring that coverage decisions, resource allocation and treatment pathways reflect both global best practice and local context. The dialogue also positions Emirati experts as equals in the international conversation, strengthening the reputation of UAE healthcare institutions and attracting further collaboration.