{
  "id": 2517847,
  "title": "Abu Dhabi’s new health equation: From prevention to precision care, building healthier families for life",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/22/abu-dhabis-new-health-equation-from-prevention-to-precision-care",
  "topic": "health",
  "section": "Health & Medicine",
  "published": "2026-08-22T06:33:37.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Gulf News",
    "slug": "gulf-news",
    "url": "https://gulfnews.com/uae/health/abu-dhabis-new-health-equation-from-prevention-to-precision-care-building-healthier-families-for-life-1.500648690"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Abu Dhabi is developing an integrated healthcare system that prioritizes prevention and proactive care, aiming to create healthier families for life. This approach is built on four interconnected pillars: prevention and proactive healthcare, world-class quality of care, innovation, and preparedness and response. The system spans over 3,800 healthcare facilities and includes specialized Centres of Excellence in advanced clinical fields such as cardiac surgery, bone marrow transplantation, and stroke treatment. A dedicated city for women's and children's health is also being developed.\n\nThe health journey begins early, with young adults supported by the healthcare system as they consider marriage, prepare for childbirth, or plan for their children's future. The Department of Health – Abu Dhabi has incorporated new family-health screenings into the comprehensive periodic screening programme \"IFHAS,\" which starts at age 18. These screenings include reproductive health assessments and genetic testing for Emirati couples, covering over 570 genes associated with more than 840 medical conditions. Premarital screening and assisted reproductive technologies are also available to strengthen family health.\n\nThe newborn genetic screening programme, one of the most comprehensive globally, screens for over 815 genetic conditions that can be treated. It enables early detection of conditions that may not show symptoms at birth but could affect a child's health later in life, allowing timely intervention and improved quality of life. Additionally, an integrated postnatal care programme offers home visits, teleconsultations, and outpatient care to ensure mothers receive medical and psychological support during the postnatal period.\n\nFor daily healthcare needs, Abu Dhabi's primary healthcare network provides comprehensive and personalized care through 818 family physicians working across 237 facilities. Services include vaccinations, routine screenings, health education, psychological support, and chronic disease management. The Health Festival, a community-wide celebration of healthy living, empowers families to adopt sustainable, preventive habits, contributing to Abu Dhabi's Healthy Living Strategy aimed at making healthier choices easier and more accessible.",
  "summary": "Abu Dhabi Department of Health is working with its partners to ensure the delivery of specialized healthcare services and enhance quality of life through an integrated health system capable of predicting risks, enabling prevention, responding rapidly to illness, and supporting recovery. To achieve this, the Department of Health – Abu Dhabi has adopted an integrated model built around four…",
  "key_points": [
    "Abu Dhabi's healthcare system prioritizes prevention and proactive care across 3,800 facilities.",
    "New family-health screenings start at age 18, including reproductive health and genetic testing.",
    "Comprehensive newborn genetic screening detects over 815 conditions for early intervention."
  ],
  "editors_take": "Abu Dhabi's shift from reactive to proactive healthcare prioritizes prevention and precision care, empowering families to adopt healthier habits and providing personalized support across the lifespan.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}