By Staff Reporter
The United Arab Emirates has ranked first globally in wellbeing promotion, community health outreach, and public involvement in health policy, according to the inaugural Health Inclusivity Index, developed by Haleon in collaboration with Economist Impact. The Index, which evaluates 40 countries across 58 indicators, was launched at a high-level event in Abu Dhabi themed “From Awareness to Action: Building Healthier Communities Through Self-Care and Literacy.”
The UAE also secured a top-five global ranking for person-centred healthcare and came second in inclusive health system implementation. Health literacy levels in the country have risen by 30% over the past three years, placing the UAE 10th globally in this category. These achievements reflect the country’s efforts in increasing awareness, accessibility, and collaboration across sectors.
The Index findings underscore the economic and social value of inclusive healthcare. For example:
Reducing low health literacy by 25% could save the UAE $2.3 billion annually.
Improved oral health could prevent $572 million in lifetime costs.
Addressing anaemia in women of reproductive age could save $336 million each year.
Managing gum disease more effectively could reduce diabetes-related costs by over $809 million over a decade.
Tooth decay alone leads to $175 million in productivity losses annually, with 8.2 million work hours lost.
Speakers at the event included Dr. Omniyat Al Hajeri (Abu Dhabi Public Health Centre), Bradley Jones (UAE–UK Business Council), Arda Arat (Haleon), Paul Downey (Abu Dhabi Biobank), and Gerard Dunleavy (Economist Impact), all of whom emphasised the link between inclusive health strategies and economic resilience.
The event marked the beginning of a multi-phase regional effort to embed health literacy and inclusivity into healthcare frameworks, ultimately shaping more equitable and sustainable systems across the MENA region.
News Source: Emirates News Agency
