Experts discuss strategies for implementing mandatory healthcare effectively across MENA

Dubai – MENA Herald: The 11th annual Healthcare Insurance Forum opened this morning, with the impact of mandatory healthcare insurance dominating discussions throughout the day.
The event brings together leaders in regional healthcare and health insurance provision, to discuss how to improve the quality and efficiency of medical provision across the region by improved healthcare insurance operations. Ideas discussed include the changing landscape of insurance in the Middle East, future trends, improving communication and collaboration between the various healthcare insurance parties in the Middle East as well as how to reduce fraud and minimize costs.
Laila Al Jassmi, CEO of Health Beyond Borders, a bespoke Dubai-based medical tourism & healthcare advisory firm focused on strategy, research and investment facilitation, and Chairperson of the event this year commented that “the Healthcare Insurance Forum this year has been able to highlight the main challenges facing the regulators and policy makers in the region to maintain a sustainable health funding model for the future”.
A major focus this year was placed on the impact that mandatory healthcare insurance coming into place will have on the region. A panel discussion, moderated by Ahmed Faiyaz, Senior Manager, Healthcare-MENA, Transaction Advisory Services at Ernst & Young discussed regional strategies to ensure its effective roll-out, with panelists including Dr. Sherif Mahmoud – Head of Healthcare Operations, AXA Insurance Gulf; Marwan Al Naboulsi – Acting Director, Health System Financing, Health Authority of Abu Dhabi (HAAD) and Robin Ali – Consultant, Health Funding Department, Dubai Health Authority
The annual Healthcare Insurance Forum continues tomorrow at The Address Hotel Dubai Mall, and allows healthcare professionals and industry experts from across the region to come together to learn about the latest developments in the healthcare insurance sector and tackle the most common challenges faced by them and more importantly, to brainstorm and work hand-in-hand on effective and efficient models to promote the growth of the industry. The event is organized by Informa Plc and sponsored by Optum, Truven, Hearst Health, Abbvie, 3M, Almadallah and Medstar Insurance.