Mohammed Bin Rashid Centre for Government Innovation (MBRCGI) has drawn attention to the importance of developing medical practices through innovation based on the latest medical technology and global best practices in the health sector, one of the key sectors in the National Innovation Strategy.

The topic came up for discussion during a session on Future of Innovation in the Health Sector organised by the MBRCGI as part of UAE Innovation Dialogue sessions, attended by officials of the Ministry of Health and more than 100 participants. The session highlighted the experience of a group of Emirati inventors in the medical sector, and discussed how innovation can be promoted in this vital sector to develop the skills of medical staff. It also looked at development of medical research to ensure treatment of common diseases, as well as to find new ways to improve the performance of the sector in view of its importance in people's lives and health of the community.

The session was attended by Professor Ali Al Naqbi, inventor of the artificial liver; Dr. Arif Alnoriana, the first Emirati doctor to perform robotic heart surgeries; and Reem Marzouki, inventor of a car for people with special needs, and moderated by Dr. Saqr Al Mualla, Deputy Director of Al Qasimi Hospital.

Huda Al Hashimi, Executive Director at MBRCGI, said the session, Future of Innovation in the Health Sector, was aimed at promoting a culture of innovation in the medical field. It discussed the experiences of a number of distinguished Emirati innovators and explored ways to take advantage of advanced technology and medical research. It also highlighted the best experiences and practices at the national and global levels to open new avenues for national medical talents, Al Hashimi said.

Al Naqbi: Next phase belongs to hybrid specialties
Speaking at the session, Professor Ali Al Naqbi described hybrid specialties as the next phase in the medical field, combining two specialties such as industry and medicine. In this connection, he cited his invention of the artificial liver, which serves the needs of patients from the medical point of view by facilitating the production of proteins.

Al Naqbi explained that the artificial liver he invented consists of three chambers, while the industrial liver used medically consists of only two rooms. The third room was added in order to ensure adequate supply of oxygen necessary to increase the lifespan of cells. Stating that finance is one of the biggest challenges facing innovators, Al Naqbi revealed that he is currently working on a new invention which will be an important contribution to the medical world. However he said he would announce the details of the invention only after obtaining its patent.

Alnoriana: Robotic cardiac surgery comes to UAE
Alnoriana pointed out that robotic cardiac surgery was not available in the UAE until last June because of the unavailability of hardware. Now, the UAE has become the only country in the world along with the United States to adopt this technique in heart surgery, providing great relief to patients and reduced travel expenses. This has also contributed to making the UAE a leading heart care destination in the region.

Marzouki: Innovation a matter of coincidence
Emirati inventor Reem Marzouki explained that innovation is not limited to those with talent. She said it may even be a case of pure coincidence, noting the experience of a female pilot who had lost her hand but was able to fly a plane again using her feet. Marzouki said this incident was the inspiration behind her invention of a car designed for people with special needs. She stressed that her invention has opened new horizons for her, and inspired her to continue the search for innovative ideas.

Al Mualla: Innovators offer a learning experience
During the session, Dr. Saqr Al Mualla said the Future of Innovation in the Health Sector session represented an important opportunity to learn from the experiences and innovations of the speakers, inspiring more Emirati innovators to take forward the development of innovative projects. Al Mualla discussed with the speakers their experiences in the field of innovation, and enquired about the challenges they faced as well as their future projects.

The session recorded huge interaction from the audience with questions focused on innovation as well as other topics related to the medical field.

Innovative Ideas, Innovative Capabilities, Innovative Culture
Mohammed Bin Rashid Centre for Government Innovation aims to develop an integrated system of modern tools to help government entities to adopt innovation in the sector and provide innovative services to the public. The Centre is focused on establishing the culture of innovation in various areas of public sector activity. The model of MBRCGI is based on three main pillars: Innovative Ideas, Innovative Capabilities, and Innovative Culture.

MBRCGI organises a series of events and government innovation laboratories to support the development of services and find solutions to challenges. It is also working on training national talents and promoting their capacity in the area of government innovation, in addition to building a global network of partnerships with universities and specialised institutes.