Forbes Middle East Healthcare Leaders Summit Concludes with Focus on Mental Health Integration
The fifth annual Healthcare Leaders Summit in Abu Dhabi examined innovative approaches to mental health intervention and the evolution of care delivery models across the region's healthcare systems.
The fifth Healthcare Leaders Summit – Abu Dhabi 2026, hosted by Forbes Middle East, drew to a close on Wednesday at Emirates Palace Mandarin Oriental, bringing together healthcare professionals and innovators to explore transformative approaches to regional health delivery.
The concluding session, entitled “From Awareness to Action – Reimagining Mental Health Through Early Intervention”, shifted the discourse from awareness campaigns towards prevention, early detection and timely intervention strategies. This thematic progression reflects a broader evolution in how healthcare systems address mental wellness as integral to overall health outcomes.
Dr Zain Al Yafei, Chief Executive Officer of Sakina, emphasised the critical importance of unifying mental and physical health within a cohesive care framework. He observed that depression and anxiety substantially influence recovery trajectories and health outcomes, particularly amongst patients managing chronic and complex conditions. Sakina’s integrated approach is structured around three foundational pillars: maintaining health, achieving health restoration, and sustaining wellbeing.
The expansion of Sakina’s mental health services demonstrates significant progress, evolving from two primary healthcare clinics to approximately 40 integrated access points distributed across the network. Dr Al Yafei articulated a vision of a proactive, evidence-based mental healthcare ecosystem that transcends conventional clinical settings, with success metrics extending beyond consultation frequencies to encompass early intervention effectiveness, enhanced recovery outcomes, and patients’ sustained engagement within family, professional and community spheres.
A subsequent panel discussion, “The Future of Care Delivery – Virtual Platforms, Remote Monitoring, and Hybrid Models”, explored the diversification of healthcare delivery mechanisms. Dr Khadija Al Marashda, Chief Executive Officer of SEHA CLINICS, underscored the significance of developing individualised care models that channel each patient through the most appropriate and secure delivery pathway, whether virtual, hybrid or face-to-face.
Dr Al Marashda identified integrated patient data systems as instrumental in enabling healthcare practitioners to formulate more discerning clinical decisions as virtual and remote monitoring capabilities expand throughout the sector. She articulated three essential prerequisites for maintaining continuity of care and accountability across delivery channels: a unified data infrastructure ensuring seamless access to patient information across all platforms; robust governance structures overseeing clinical pathway management; and a comprehensive accountability framework that distinctly delineates the obligations and responsibilities of healthcare providers and patients.
Source: WAM