UAE residents say inclusive healthcare should be top priority in next five years: Survey

The survey, which surveyed 1,000 residents in the UAE, also showed 54 percent of respondents think that vaccine research and development should be the priority in terms of healthcare advances

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The Covid-19 pandemic has put a spotlight on the importance of healthcare – with many in the UAE saying equal access to it is a top priority for society in the next five years, a new survey showed.

Nearly all respondents in the UAE believe that science can solve some of the biggest societal challenges, according to the latest State of Science Index by global research firm 3M.

“The pandemic put a spotlight on the state of healthcare and our latest State of Science Index shows a desire for urgent improvements to health equity. That means getting us all to a standardised level of health right across society,” Laszlo Svinger, managing director of 3M’s Middle East and Africa unit, said.

The survey, which surveyed 1,000 residents in the UAE, also showed 54 percent of respondents think that vaccine research and development should be the priority in terms of healthcare advances.

Although many believe that better addressing chronic diseases and mental health issues are important, nearly half of respondents said it’s also crucial to target the root causes or social drivers of these health issues.

Other healthcare advances that UAE respondents wish to see in the future include a more personalised medicine, use of artificial intelligence, and better digital health records management.

The State of Science Index also covered other countries across the globe, including Australia, Canada, China, Japan, the UK, and the US.

Source: Arabian Business