Tagged with MEA

UAE Healthcare systems across the world continue to struggle with fragmentation, rising costs and reactive models of care that intervene too late. Dimitris Moulavasilis, Group CEO of M42, outlines how an integrated platform spanning care delivery, genomics, digital infrastructure and policy seeks to realign incentives, embed intelligence at scale and reposition…

MEA For decades, the Middle East has faced a disproportionately high burden of rare genetic disorders, fuelled both by deep-rooted cultural practices and an overreliance on Western genomic data. Fast forward to 2026, and massive genome projects across the Gulf region are attempting to shift the narrative. Backed by immense sovereign…

MEA Dr Said Ismail, geneticist and professor of genomics at Hamad Bin Khalifa University, reflects on his role as the founding director and one of the architects of the Qatar Genome Programme (QGP), one of the Middle East’s most established and globally recognised population‑level genomics initiatives. He describes the pivotal decisions…

UAE Global advances in rare blood disorders increasingly hinge on where evidence is generated, how patients are followed, and whether innovation reaches beyond a limited few. Khaled Musallam describes how clinical reality at Burjeel informs international research, trial design, and guideline development, while pressing for models that balance scientific ambition with…

MEA CTI EMEA Managing Director Alaa Assem is a physician, ophthalmologist and MBA holder with over 30 years of experience in pharma and clinical research organisations. Since joining CTI, he has strengthened the company’s presence in the Middle East, focusing on rare disease, gene and cell therapy, oncology, and transplantation. CTI…

MEA Rare diseases remain among the most complex and least visible challenges facing healthcare systems, particularly in regions where genetic factors amplify the burden. In this conversation, Ahmed Salem, Head of AstraZeneca Rare Diseases in the Gulf, reflects on how rare disease strategy is translated into regional action, spanning innovation, diagnostics,…

MEA As healthcare systems across the GCC accelerate their focus on innovation, access, and advanced therapies, Novartis is positioning the region at the centre of its long-term strategy. Mohamed Ezz Eldin shares how global priorities are translated into local execution, from rare disease care and genomics to clinical research and innovative…

MEA Biogen’s transformation into a rare disease-focused organisation is reshaping how innovation reaches patients in the GCC. Diederik Kok, the company’s GCC Head reflects on how global strategy translates into regional execution, from launching first-in-class therapies and navigating access for ultra-rare conditions, to building sustainable financing models, clinical research capacity, and…

MEA Hussein Abhari, Head of the MENA region, QIAGEN, has led the company’s regional presence since 2017, spanning products for molecular research and clinical testing. His priorities focus on strengthening long-term partnerships, supporting national healthcare strategies, building local scientific capacity and ensuring advanced molecular and genetic technologies translate into real-world clinical…

UAE Dr Rania Alshami reflects on two decades in the Middle East and North Africa clinical research ecosystem, charting the region’s regulatory maturation, rare disease opportunities, and growing role in early-phase trials. She discusses patient access, genomics integration, sponsor engagement, and why MENA is emerging as a credible hub for innovation…

MEA For medtech companies operating in the Middle East and Africa, bringing high-tech devices to market alone is no longer enough; reliability, uptime, and lifecycle performance have become just as critical.   Leading players such as Olympus Medical Systems are differentiating themselves by investing in service capability, ensuring that engineers responsible…

MEA As global pharmaceutical strategies continue to shift, Ali Sleiman reflects on how Genesys Pharmaceuticals is being built as a disciplined execution platform for the Middle East and Africa. The interview explores how distributor-led models, portfolio selectivity, and strong infrastructure shape access to innovation, including in rare diseases, against an increasingly…