UAE's Role in Pandemic Preparedness

Local Drug and Vaccine Production in UAE: Key to Pandemic Preparedness

The United Arab Emirates, especially Dubai and Abu Dhabi, have demonstrated remarkable growth in the healthcare industry in recent years. According to messages delivered at the recent third Global Local Manufacturing Forum held by the World Health Organization (WHO) in Abu Dhabi, expanding local drug and vaccine production is not only strategically important for another pandemic but also one of the most vital tools for realizing the human right to health.

Right to Health and Local Production

The right to health not only signifies access to medical care but also ensures that everyone can equally access the products and tools that protect and promote this fundamental human right. This became particularly significant during the COVID-19 pandemic when the availability of vaccines and medical devices was extremely uneven worldwide. The concentration of production in a few countries caused serious supply problems, particularly for low- and middle-income countries.

A key topic at the forum held in Abu Dhabi was that expanding local production is not merely a tool for crisis response but a long-term solution for ensuring healthcare equity.

WHO's Four Main Recommendations

The WHO has made four key recommendations to expand local production:

1. Technology Transfer and Ecosystem Building: It is important to support manufacturing capacities not just with technology but also with data, regulatory knowledge, and expertise. Such ecosystems can enable other countries to produce their own medicines and vaccines.

2. Application of Digital Technology and Artificial Intelligence: The entire production chain—from research to manufacturing to distribution—can become more efficient with the help of new technologies. AI and big data not only accelerate development but also increase efficiency.

3. Support for Green Manufacturing: Using environmentally friendly, energy-efficient technologies and sustainable material sourcing enables production to be not only efficient but also environmentally friendly.

4. Public and Private Sector Collaboration: Establishing partnerships between the public sector and private sector is essential for developing a sustainable healthcare industry in the long term, whether in terms of research and development, infrastructure, or workforce training.

The Urgency

The WHO has called on governments, industry players, and international organizations not to wait for the current international pandemic agreement to come into effect – the necessary steps must be taken now. Cooperation and joint action are essential to prevent future inequities like those observed during COVID-19.

UAE's Role in Global Healthcare

The UAE has already launched several initiatives to boost local production, particularly in Dubai and Abu Dhabi. The country is part of international collaborations, such as the mRNA technology hub set up in South Africa, and participates in the Republic of Korea’s bio-manufacturing workforce training program.

The goal is to create a healthcare infrastructure capable of serving its population while also contributing regionally and globally to pandemic response capabilities. The country’s efforts could serve as a model for other Middle Eastern nations.

Summary

Expanding local drug and vaccine manufacturing is not just a technological and economic issue but a means of achieving equality and human rights. The UAE—especially Dubai and Abu Dhabi—is actively shaping this new era where global healthcare security is not the privilege of a few countries but a reachable goal for everyone. Current decisions and investments are set to determine how prepared the world will be for the next pandemic or any other health crisis.

(The source of this article is a World Health Organization (WHO) statement.)