UAE health ranking: Good on sugar taxes and vaccines, but tobacco control lags

The United Arab Emirates has secured a respectable 23rd place among 114 countries in a new ranking of disease prevention readiness. The assessment, conducted by FTI Consulting, evaluated 27 indicators across four key areas: policy and governance, funding and incentives, digital health and data, and access and capacity. The UK topped the rankings, with Finland, Australia, Norway, and Sweden close behind.

Despite strong performances in certain areas, the UAE lags behind in tobacco control, scoring only 45 out of 100, compared to 82.5 for the UK and 80 for Finland. The UAE achieved full marks for its policies to reduce sugary drink consumption, which have been implemented through excise taxes on sweetened beverages since 2017. Digital health adoption and data use also contributed to the UAE's positive score.

However, tobacco control remains a significant weakness, with the UAE's tax on traditional tobacco products and electronic smoking devices at 100% resulting in a lower score compared to wealthier nations. Dr Maryam Mojtabavi, an infectious diseases specialist, highlighted the importance of regular health checks and early screening in strengthening disease prevention, while Dr Lalu Chacko emphasized the UAE's proactive approach to health, citing vaccination programs and public fitness campaigns as key initiatives.