Exploring emerging trends at the intersection of technology, AI, and disease management

Healthcare is evolving rapidly, driven by advancements in medicine and the rise of chronic diseases. The demand for efficient, personalized care is increasing, and innovations such as AI, telemedicine, remote monitoring, augmented and virtual reality, and precision medicine are transforming care delivery. These advancements enable earlier preventive interventions and more minimally invasive, targeted approaches. Additionally, value-based care, which prioritizes patient outcomes over service volume, is gaining prominence in the region.
Christian Schuhmacher, Executive Chairman of Emirates Hospitals Group, brings 20 years of healthcare industry expertise, 10 of which are in the UAE. His experience spans developing established healthcare brands, launching greenfield sites, and restructuring and stabilising large, pan-Emirates groups.
“No two days are the same in healthcare,” says Christian. “The pace of change has only increased since the pandemic. Over the next few years, we’ll see significant transformations driven by technological advancements and increasing patient expectations for personalised, accessible, and efficient care. Coupled with the rising prevalence of lifestyle-related diseases such as diabetes and cardiovascular conditions, which place pressure on healthcare systems, we’ll witness adjustments to traditional healthcare delivery models.”
Technological advancements are central to this transformation. Artificial Intelligence, Precision Medicine, Real Time Patient Monitoring (RTM), Telemedicine, are already contributing to significant progress in healthcare delivery. The industry is still at the early stages of AI, but already at Emirates Hospitals Group, we are seeing the benefits or numerous applications that drive efficiencies not just in the clinical areas but across the whole business including patient experience and engagement, supply chain, contact centres, marketing, , the opportunities are endless.
RTM allows Emirates Hospital Group to receive live data and implement AI powered disease specific algorithms that facilitate earlier interventions and shorter hospital stays with patients fully confident they are being monitored as if staying in the hospital. Precision medicine is a term that the public will hear a lot more in 2025 and refers to the ability to tailor treatments to individuals based on their unique characteristics, including how their genetic makeup influences how you will respond to different treatments.
The industry is also keeping an eye on the progression to value-based care models that prioritise transparency, accountability and outcomes over the volume of services provided. This is a significant change in care delivery and importantly for the financial reimbursement. The goal is to better align patient outcomes and expectations with healthcare providers.
“At Emirates Hospitals Group we have already started a program to prioritise value-based care and are strategically positioned to adapt to this changing environment. By adopting advanced technologies early and seamlessly integrating them into its operations, the group strives to deliver innovative, efficient, cost-effective and patient-centred care.”
In November 2024 Emirates Hospitals Group announced the successful implementation of its comprehensive restructuring plan. This exceptional milestone ensured a robust financial foundation to provide sustainable growth for the organisation.
Christian highlights some of the key emerging trends Emirates Hospital Group has been able to embed into the restructuring. “One of the key things, not obvious to everyone was to revise the governance structure to include a diverse non-executive Board of Directors with expertise across healthcare operations, finance, technology, and patient advocacy to support best practice and decision-making. On the technology side we’ve been able to assess and partner with key AI powered technology vendors to develop real time data and remote patient monitoring programmes, call centre and customer relations management (CRM) solutions and seamless digital workflows. By adopting these technologies and integrating them into our workflows we are better positioned to embrace value based care models.
Green healthcare is growing in prominence also and as the name suggests is refers to ensuring we deliver healthcare services in a manner that’s environmentally sustainable. This is a challenge as it’s clear all businesses need to minimise their carbon foot print, waste, water usage etc and so on and so forth.
Healthcare has some challenges around rising costs, especially in respect to hiring and retaining strong qualified physicians and we need to explore how green health models can unlock efficiencies in our cost base. Emirates Hospital Group embraces the Geneva Sustainability Centre initiative of the International Hospital Federation that supports healthcare leaders on the journey to low-carbon, equitable, sustainable and resilient healthcare.
Christian emphasises that patient satisfaction and experience are pivotal in a competitive healthcare sector. “Everyone is aspiring to be the best hospital in Dubai or UAE, and having great doctors, a beautiful facility, advanced technology simply isn’t enough,” he says. “Patients have, rightfully, high expectations and they have plenty of options. The whole patient journey from access to checking out and collecting your medication from the pharmacy to access to your reports, to timely follow ups by the treating physician has to be smooth. If only the final part of the patient journey is sub-standard, that’s what patients will remember the most.
“Ultimately patient experience and engagement is what strengthens your long-term commercial position, so it’s important it’s not just a buzzword. By balancing operational efficiency with high-quality care, ensuring the latest AI technology is seamlessly integrated into patient journeys, combined with strong clinical governance and evidence-based care practices; doesn’t just result in improved patient outcomes, but increased trust with insurers and reduced rejection rates. Delivering an exceptional patient experience works.”
For more information visit www.emirateshospital.ae or call 800 444 444