The UAE’s own heath organization, the Emirates Health Services (EHS) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Johnson & Johnson Middle East to strengthen their ties to develop more advanced health services, as well as innovative hi-tech solutions to support the sector and boost its regional and international competitiveness.
The agreement sets up various areas of cooperation for EHS to work on with Johnson & Johnson (Middle East) Inc. and Johnson & Johnson Middle East FZ-LLC.
The MoU was signed by Dr. Yousif Mohammed Al-Serkal, Director-General of Emirates Health Services, and Loai Abu Elhawa, General Manager – MedTech Gulf at Johnson & Johnson.
Other representatives who were present on the occasion include;
- Dr. Abdulaziz Al Zarooni, Acting Executive Director of the Financial Sector and Support Services at EHS
- Dr. Kulthum Al Balushi, Chief Innovation Officer, Director of the Training and Development Centre at EHS and
- Mr. Jimmy Farris, Managing Director of Johnson & Johnson Middle East FZ-LLC
“The Memorandum of Understanding we are signing today is consistent with our plans and strategic directions at Emirates Health Services, and supports our efforts to provide innovative and sustainable health services that boost efficiency across the entire health system and set the stage for more ambitious advancements in healthcare systems at the local and international levels. The areas of cooperation outlined in the agreement include developing a structured educational curriculum that guarantees the transfer of knowledge and allows healthcare professionals to upgrade and refine their skills through training programs and advanced digital learning tools, including simulations and virtual reality applications.”
For her part, Ms. Marzina Collis, Managing Director at Johnson & Johnson, praised the new partnership with Emirates Health Services, describing the organization as one of the leading health institutions in the UAE.
“The Memorandum of Understanding will allow us to exchange expertise and work closely with outstanding healthcare professionals and use advanced technologies to help develop their skills and attract more talent to this vital sector,” Ms. Collis stated.
The MoU specifies three main areas of association, namely, Educational Programmes and Training Courses, Strategic Solutions Programmes, and Public Awareness Programmes.
The partnership with Johnson & Johnson will set a framework for a more extensive data-driven partnership that aims to support hospitals and healthcare professionals, achieve better outcomes, improve patient experience, and reduce the total cost of care.
The agreement calls for collaboration to implement public awareness programs and campaigns covering various diseases, such as obesity, cancer, and atrial fibrillation. The two parties will work together to launch the ‘Silent Noise Campaign’ to raise awareness about and destigmatize mental health conditions – focusing particularly on schizophrenia and depression. This campaign is in line with EHS’ strategy to drive positive change and combat stereotypes associated with mental health.
Related: Abu Dhabi DoH & French healthcare firm Sanofi join for clinical research projects