MedTech World panellists emphasise human-centred approaches to expand equitable access to care

Healthcare leaders at MedTech World Middle East highlighted the growing potential for medical technology to expand equitable access to urgent and primary care, stressing that success depends on human-centred design, policy alignment and proactive patient engagement.

The panel, titled “The Human Side of Medtech: Expanding Access to Quality Care When and Where it Matters Most,” was moderated by Dr Alice McGee, Senior Medical Advisor at Flo Health. Speakers included Dr Kareema Alraesi, Director for Primary Healthcare at Emirates Health Services; Michele Tarnow, CEO & Founder of Alliance Care Technologies; Passant El-Khatib, Global Healthcare Corporate Affairs Director; and Dr Saleh Fares Al-Ali, President of the International Federation for Emergency Medicine.

Addressing system gaps before technology

Panellists agreed that technology alone cannot overcome access disparities. Dr Saleh highlighted that governance, funding and operational inefficiencies often leave underserved populations behind before medtech solutions are even introduced. “Patients just need access to care,” he said, noting that systemic alignment is essential to prevent gaps and reduce unnecessary strain on emergency services.

Dr Kareema shared patient stories illustrating how delayed care can result from episodic treatment, lack of continuity and online self-diagnosis, emphasising that proactive systems are critical to bridging the divide between primary and urgent care. El-Khatib stressed that health literacy is a powerful but often underestimated tool for improving outcomes and system efficiency.

Medtech in practice: relevance, reliability, and access

Speakers discussed how medtech can improve care outside hospitals. Tarnow pointed to remote monitoring, predictive tools and wearable devices as emerging ways to reduce urgent care needs. Dr Saleh and Dr Kareema highlighted that technologies must be clinically relevant, reliable and easily accessible for frontline clinicians, while also helping to predict and triage risk.

Policy and governance as enablers

The panel emphasised the role of government in accelerating medtech adoption. In the UAE, policies such as universal emergency access, investment in primary healthcare and integrated electronic health records support patient-centric care. Dr Kareema noted initiatives like e-Rapid Care, which allows patients to self-assess urgency, and highlighted the importance of embedding education within digital systems.

Panellists also praised the UAE’s public-private partnership approach, regulatory clarity, and agile implementation, which together enable rapid adoption of innovative solutions and system-wide resilience. El-Khatib called for backward-engineered partnerships, where equity is designed from the outset and success is measured by reach and impact, rather than pilot completion alone.

Investing in equity and early intervention

Speakers underlined the need to view healthcare as critical infrastructure rather than a social cost. Early intervention, predictive care, and primary healthcare investment were cited as key strategies to improve healthspan, reduce crisis management costs, and enhance long-term system efficiency. Tarnow highlighted data interoperability as essential for AI-driven solutions, ensuring interventions address real-world, region-specific needs.

Looking ahead: priorities for the next 12 months

In closing, panelists suggested concrete steps to advance equitable care: Dr Kareema called for seamless access across physical and digital services, Tarnow emphasised preventative screening, El-Khatib advocated for patient-inclusive design, and Dr Saleh highlighted governance-focused strategies to support underserved populations.

The discussion underlined that expanding access to quality care requires coordinated action across technology, policy, and patient engagement — with a focus on solutions that are timely, relevant, and designed around the needs of people.