Future of Industry Dialogue: fourth in series focuses on the UAE's pharmaceutical sector

Dr Sultan Al Jaber, Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology, and Abdulrahman Al Owais, Minister of Health and Prevention meet chief executives of drug makers

The UAE’s Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology held its fourth Future of Industry Dialogue with pharma chief executives. Image: supplied

The UAE's Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology held the fourth of its Future of Industry Dialogue online meetings, highlighting the key role that artificial intelligence and other innovations can play in enhancing local production of medicines and medical equipment.

The first in the series, which began last month, focused on the heavy industries, the second on supporting resilient food and beverage manufacturing and the third on ways of increasing advanced technology sector’s contribution to the country's economic growth.

Dr Sultan Al Jaber, Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology led the session which was attended by Abdulrahman Al Owais, Minister of Health and Prevention.

Also in attendance were Jürgen Lauterbach, CFO of Julphar, Basem Al-Barahmeh, General Manager of Globalpharma, Emad Nazih Baloosh, General Manager of Medpharma, Dr Shamsheer Vayalil, Chairman of LIFEPharma, Madhukar Tanna, CEO of Pharmax, Dr Salwa Sami, General Manager of Medysinal, Dr Zuhdi Sawalhi, CEO of Medisal, Helda Alosta, General Manager of Monrol, Dr Firas Razouk, General Manager of Fine Healthcare, Mohammed Hamad Al Badi, CEO of Tawam Medical Instruments Factory, Vivekananda Shenoy, General Manager of MicroSynergy Pharmaceuticals, Ashish Koshy, CEO of G42 Healthcare, and Farhan Malik, General Manager of Pure Health.

Dr Al Jaber said the application of advanced technology would support the sector's resilience.

"We can and must enhance local production of pharmaceuticals and medical equipment by leveraging artificial intelligence and Industry 4.0 solutions," he said. "Not only will this diversify our economy and increase our local efficiencies, but it will improve our preparedness to scale production when it’s most needed, and this is vital to the industry’s future resilience.”

In the aftermath of the Covid-19 pandemic, the future of the health care sector would depend on the widening of its network of global partners, reinforcing supply chains and sufficiently planning ahead, said Dr Al Jaber.