HEALTHCARE is an integral part of the future. The countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) seek to enhance the quality of life of their citizens and emerge as leaders in key health-related fields such as: research and development, medical technologies and innovation— particularly as it related to the emergent Internet of Medical Things (IoMT). This series explores the state of healthcare in each of the six GCC members, the main goals they retain and the challenges they may face.

 

Using the experience gained during the Covid-19 pandemic, the GCC countries are expending tremendous energy to provide effective, high-quality services while encouraging the growth of the healthcare system. Recently, some challenges have emerged which need to be addressed due to major demographic changes in the region. These challenges include population growth, rising obesity rates and the shortages of healthcare personnel. GCC countries have taken many different approaches to solve these problems and improve the quality of care offered. Some GCC members such as Oman employ free universal healthcare to all Omani citizens (World Health Organization). Saudi Arabia, however, is looking to privatize much of its healthcare system (International Trade Organization), as well as Bahrain, which Keith Boyfield details in the first article of the series.

 

This series will explore some key aspects of the development of healthcare in the GCC. These include each nation’s demographics, current healthcare systems in place, the impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic, and future healthcare challenges the nations of the GCC will face. While many of the challenges they face may be similar, the vastly different demographics and healthcare systems of the members of the GCC will lead them to approach the future of healthcare very differently. This makes healthcare an incredibly interesting sector to monitor in the years to come. 

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(18/06/2023)