A new Covid Response Report (CRR), produced by Oxford Business Group (OBG) in partnership with the digital health platform Altibbi, explores the rapid development and uptake of medical and health technology across four MENA markets in 2020 while considering the major part that further innovation will play in driving economic recovery in the region. 

The CRR provides in-depth analysis of how Egypt, Jordan, Saudi Arabia and the UAE responded to the pandemic in an easy-to-navigate and accessible format, focusing on key data and infographics relating to the technological advances in the health care system of each country against the broader socio-economic landscape.

The report tracks the investment made by all four countries in health care provision in recent years which, while varying in terms of funds allocated and inflows, bolstered their efforts to contain the virus when it arrived and care for patients.

In particular, it looks at the broad range of tech-led medical and health services introduced by each market, which proved crucial in the pandemic by making alternative, remote solutions available and reducing the overall pressure on traditional systems. 

Key examples included e-health and telemedicine options, which were key in delivering vital public health information and facilitating remote consultations, thereby preventing the spread of Covid-19. 

Subscribers will also find coverage of the medical and health technology industry’s potential for growth in areas such as medical record digitalisation, which is expected to gain momentum in line with demand for integrated health care systems, telemedicine and automation. 

The report explores Altibbi’s growth story, tracking its expansion and the steps it took to continue operating throughout the pandemic when demand for services – both established and new – rose sharply. It also looks in detail at the firm’s collaborative projects with the governments of Egypt, Jordan, Saudi Arabia and the UAE, which enabled them to continue delivering their health care provision through telehealth consultations and Covid-19 information hotlines, alongside other services, in a challenging environment.

Jalil Allabadi, Founder and CEO, Altibbi, said:

Having enabled governments to provide essential health information and medical services remotely when Covid-19 arrived, new technologies were now expected to play an even more significant role in post-pandemic health care, driven forward by changing demographics, rising levels of internet use and pressure on current systems.

“Approximately 400m people in the Arab world are still without access to essential medical services, while the proportion of the MENA population aged over 65 is rising. At the same time, an estimated 70% of doctor visits are considered to be unnecessary,” he said. “Technological tools in various forms, ranging from telemedicine to apps, will play a critical part in meeting the demand for health information and medical care, at a time when governments are keeping a close eye on their budgets.”

Karine Loehman, OBG’s Managing Director for Africa, said that unlike key areas of the global economy, technology-enabled health services had performed strongly during the pandemic, with health-tech companies able to tap into the disruption to doing business.

“The outlook for the sector is bright, with industry players already focused on developing solutions that will help to fill vacuums in quality and infrastructure,” he said. “From a regional perspective, all four study countries are expected to exhibit strong GDP per capita growth going forward, pointing to promising prospects for higher purchasing power and telehealth spending.”

The CRR on the MENA region forms part of a series of tailored reports which the global research and advisory company is currently producing with its partners, alongside other highly relevant, go-to research tools, including a range of country-specific Covid-19 Economic Impact Assessment articles and interviews.

The CRR is now available to view and download at https://oxfordbusinessgroup.com/blog/harry-van-schaick/focus-reports/report-what-does-pandemic-driven-digitalisation-mean-health 

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About Oxford Business Group

Oxford Business Group (OBG) is a global research and advisory company with over 30 countries, spanning the Middle East, Asia, Africa and the Americas. It is recognised internationally as a distinctive and respected provider of on-the-ground intelligence on the world’s fastest-growing markets, termed The Yellow Slice, about OBG’s corporate colour. 

Through its range of products – Economic News and Views; OBG CEO Surveys; OBG Events and Conferences; Global Platform, which hosts exclusive video interviews; and The Report publications – as well as its Advisory division, OBG offers a comprehensive and accurate analysis of macroeconomic and sector-level developments for sound investment opportunities and business decisions. 

OBG provides business intelligence to its subscribers through multiple platforms, including its direct 6 million verified subscribers, Dow Jones Factiva subscribers, the Bloomberg Professional Services subscribers, Refinitiv’s (previously Thomson Reuters) Eikon subscribers and more.