Abu Dhabi Leads Global Dialogue on Transforming Health Systems Through Prevention
Future Health – A Global Initiative by Abu Dhabi convened senior health leaders from 15 nations at the United Nations General Assembly to advance preventative healthcare and population-scale health system reform.
During the 81st Session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York, Future Health – A Global Initiative by Abu Dhabi brought together Ministers, government representatives and health leaders from 15 nations to establish a framework for transforming health systems from reactive treatment to proactive prevention and early intervention.
Chaired by Ahmed bin Ali Al Sayegh, Minister of Health and Prevention, the high-level dialogue convened participants from the United Arab Emirates, Angola, Brazil, Ethiopia, Finland, Guyana, Indonesia, Madagascar, Mali, Nigeria, Rwanda, Sweden, the United Kingdom, the United Republic of Tanzania and the United States of America.
The discussion, held under the theme ‘Redesigning Health Systems for Prediction, Prevention and Population Health Outcomes’, identified four interconnected requirements for effective health system transformation. Nations must establish robust population data systems to identify health risks earlier; develop financing mechanisms and incentives that prioritise prevention; build delivery capacity to translate insights into accessible services; and create trusted, inclusive systems that reach communities at grassroots level.
Mr Al Sayegh emphasised the broader significance of prevention: “Investing in prevention is an investment in people, and in the future of our societies. As science gives us a better understanding of risk, we must ensure that knowledge leads to earlier action and better health.”
Practical approaches emerged across jurisdictions, including national life-course screening programmes, integrated demographic and genomic data systems, community health worker networks supported by digital records, and decentralised care models. Policy action on nutrition, affordability and behaviour change was recognised as essential.
Dr. Ahmed AlKhazraji, Executive Director of Healthy Living at the Department of Health – Abu Dhabi, outlined the emirate’s implementation strategy. Abu Dhabi integrates its health data capabilities with cross-sector initiatives across communities, workplaces and schools to embed prevention into everyday environments where health choices are made.
“The ability to identify risk earlier is a major advance, but insight alone will not improve health,” Dr AlKhazraji explained. “We need to act on the factors that influence health long before someone enters a clinic.”
The dialogue recognised that prevention depends not only on scientific advancement but also on the physical and social environments where people live and work, alongside trusted community infrastructure capable of supporting both everyday prevention and outbreak response. Participants identified screening accessibility, affordability, referral pathways and physical accessibility as key barriers requiring systematic attention to ensure equitable population benefits.
The Abu Dhabi Future Health Summit, scheduled for 20–22 October 2026, will provide a continuation forum for international leaders to advance these transformative priorities.
Source: WAM