ABU DHABI, 20th January, 2023 (WAM) — Building on its ongoing efforts to improve the healthcare ecosystem from all aspects, the Department of Health – Abu Dhabi (DoH), the regulator of the healthcare sector in the emirate, signed a strategic Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Geneva Sustainability Centre (GSC).

The GSC is an organisation powered by the International Hospital Federation (IHF) focused on assisting hospitals and healthcare services to address sustainability challenges by equipping healthcare leaders with the knowledge, skills and tools to deliver a net positive impact. The agreement will see that the GSC delivers a sustainability masterclass while providing access to the sustainability accelerator tool and coaching and consulting support for the healthcare workforce in Abu Dhabi.

This signing further reinforces DoH’s continuous efforts to advance the efficiency and sustainability of the healthcare ecosystem in the emirate. It will enable the healthcare ecosystem across Abu Dhabi to achieve its sustainability targets by building sustainable and climate resilience and establishing capabilities amongst stakeholders and leaders.

This comes after the recent announcement by DoH, during the Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week 2023, in which the department revealed the emirate’s sustainability goals for the healthcare ecosystem.

In the presence of Dr. Jamal Mohammed Al Kaabi, Under-Secretary of DoH, the MoU was signed by Hind Mubarak Al Zaabi, Executive Director Healthcare Facilities at the Department of Health – Abu Dhabi (DoH), and Sonia Roschnik, Executive Director, of Geneva Sustainability Centre.

Al Zaabi said, “At the Department of Health – Abu Dhabi, we look forward to collaborating with the Geneva Sustainability Centre. It aims to improve the efficiency and sustainability of the healthcare ecosystem in the emirate and Abu Dhabi. Under the directives of our wise leadership, we work on partnering with global experts to provide the highest levels of care to the members of our community, thus cementing the emirate’s position as a global hub for healthcare and life sciences.”

Al Zaabi added, “This comes after the DoH’s recent announcement of the healthcare ecosystem’s sustainability goals, which will ensure that we provide sustainable and innovative healthcare services for members of our community today, and for generations to come.”

Roschnik stated, “When the IHF established the Geneva Sustainability Centre, it was with a clear mission to drive net zero, climate resilient and sustainable healthcare, in support of IHF member organisations. We commend the leadership demonstrated by the Department of Health – Abu Dhabi and are delighted to support their plans and the achievement of sustainable healthcare for the benefit of patients, the public and the planet.”

The two parties have agreed to collaborate on activities which will aid the emirate in achieving its sustainability targets. These activities include delivering a sustainability masterclass, accessing the sustainability accelerator tool, and providing coaching and consulting support. The delivery of the learning programme will be directed towards healthcare leaders and stakeholders to further increase their capabilities and knowledge within the field of sustainability, in addition to equipping them with key information and tools to plan, assess and address the necessary organisational changes.

In line with DoH’s efforts in digitising of healthcare services, the sustainability accelerator tool is a digital platform that will enable maturity assessment of healthcare facilities related to sustainability and provides educational resources to aid facilities in addressing identified areas for advancement and accomplishing new positive outcomes. With the support of the GSC’s expertise, these activities align with the department’s continuous efforts to establish a knowledge-based economy and support Abu Dhabi’s positioning as a hub for research and innovation in life sciences within the region and globally.

The two parties recognise the significance of effective collaboration to provide the best healthcare services to community members and resume the efforts to improve the efficiency and sustainability of the healthcare ecosystem in the emirate.

The DoH is set to implement its newly-set goals, which cover infrastructure, operations, and waste management. Its efforts align with the emirate’s “Economic Vision 2030” to see a 20 percent reduction in the carbon footprint by 2030 and the “UAE Net Zero by 2050”, ensuring infrastructure development and environmental sustainability across all sectors. This collaboration not only addresses the sustainability challenges which the emirate currently faces but also provides solutions for challenges ahead. The DoH continues to identify gaps and regulations and cooperate with the biggest international partners that would help the emirate achieve its sustainability goals.