Table 1 Summary of study characteristics included in the literature search
From: Progress and outcomes of health systems reform in the United Arab Emirates: a systematic review
First author, Year | Study Design / Method | Focus | Topics | Key Findings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Al Maskari, 2010 [33] | Retrospective cohort study | Dubai | Healthcare Financing | Average costs (without complications): 1605 USD, with complications 5645 USD |
Burden of disease (diabetes) | 61% of all diabetes patients in the cohort reported to have suffered poor health during the past month | |||
Al Zaabi, 2014 [36] | Retrospective cohort study | Abu Dhabi | Healthcare Financing | Asthma treatment in the UAE costs around 200 USD per capita |
Burden of disease (asthma) | Crude prevalence of asthma is 4.8%, much lower than expected | |||
Blair, 2012 [21] | Data review | UAE | Burden of disease | Substantial population growth |
Population Health | Data quality needs to be improved | |||
Blair, 2012 [27] | Healthcare policy review | UAE | UAE Health System | Review of UAE healthcare system 2000–2010 |
Population Health | Dramatic population growth, young population | |||
Burden of disease | Main causes of death: road injury, health and cerebrovascular diseases | |||
Healthcare Financing | Expenditure has grown from 1.7 billion USD in 2000 to 9.5 billion USD in 2011 | |||
Healthcare infrastructure and workforce | Largely expat clinical workforce (>85%) | |||
Impact of reforms | Satisfaction appears high but citizens still opt for treatment abroad | |||
Al Hosani, 2014 [31] | Healthcare policy review | UAE | Burden of disease | National neonatal screening program |
Brownie, 2015 20] | Regulatory policy review | UAE | Healthcare infrastructure and workforce | Brief historical overview of regulation and licensing in the UAE |
UAE Health System | Move towards central, consistent regulation and licensure | |||
Hajat, 2012 [34] | Retrospective cohort study | Abu Dhabi | Burden of disease | This population-wide cardiovascular screening program demonstrated a high cardiovascular burden for our small sample in Abu Dhabi |
Hajat, 2012 [29] | Healthcare policy review | Abu Dhabi | Burden of disease | Largely unhealthy lifestyle - lack of physical activity, poor diets & tobacco consumption |
Population Health | Weqaya - a program aimed at improving population health (cardiovascular) | |||
Healthcare Financing | Diabetes may cost up to $1.1 billion per year in Abu Dhabi | |||
UAE Health System | Weqaya program - screened 94% of national population | |||
Hamidi, 2014 [19] | Focused literature review | Abu Dhabi | Healthcare Financing | In Abu Dhabi there has been a significant growth in demand for healthcare since 2007 |
UAE Health System | Strategies are in place designed to slow the rise in spending | |||
Hamidi, 2015 [38] | Data review | Abu Dhabi | UAE Health System | The health care model has not fully matured yet and needs to focus on creating a sustainable model that is affordable and provides high quality, safe care |
Hamidi, 2015 [17] | Data analysis | Dubai | UAE Health System | Changes required to move from curative to preventive care and from inpatient to day care, outpatient and home-based care |
Healthcare infrastructure and workforce | Cost containment for pharmaceuticals | |||
Healthcare Financing | Strengthen long-term care | |||
Koornneef, 2012 [14] | Healthcare policy review | Abu Dhabi | Impact of reforms | Limited information available, some evidence of improved access and patient satisfaction |
UAE Health System | Three key characteristics: centralized regulatory system, mandatory insurance and competition | |||
Loney, 2013 [25] | Literature search | UAE | Population Health | UAE has significantly invested resources into population-based control measures |
Burden of disease | Top four priorities: cardio, injury, cancer, respiratory diseases | |||
Mosaad, 2014 [28] | Healthcare policy review | UAE | UAE Health System | Risk factors: ageing population, population growth, health risk factors |
Healthcare infrastructure and workforce | Lack of clinical staff, hospital beds and referral network | |||
Impact of reforms | Progress is “underway” in the UAE with a focus on quality, screening and competition. However, the focus is not on prevention | |||
Osenenko km et al., 2015 [50] | Retrospective cohort study | UAE | Population Health | Greater understanding of the factors leading to high adherence to guidelines would be useful |
Impact of reforms | Compared to international benchmarks, the patients in Dubai received similar quality outcomes | |||
Sharif, 2011 [44] | Case study | Dubai | UAE Health System | Review of the necessary changes in the healthcare system in Dubai to accommodate population growth and burden of disease |
Vetter, 2012 [15] | Case study | Abu Dhabi | Healthcare Financing | Strong regulatory focus on cost containment |
UAE Health System | Many changes since 2006, in particular introduction of mandatory insurance and the establishment of a regulator |