ABU DHABI: The Abu Dhabi Public Health Centre (ADPHC) and AstraZeneca FZ LLC have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to launch a collaborative public health initiative aimed at improving outcomes for patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in the Abu Dhabi Emirate.

The MoU was signed on May 13, 2025, by Dr. Omniyat Al Hajeri, Executive Director of the Community Health sector at ADPHC, and Sameh El Fangary, Cluster President GCC at AstraZeneca. The signing took place during the 25th IUHPE World Conference on Health Promotion, held from May 13 to 16, 2025, at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC).

Dr. Rashed Alsuwaidi, Director General of ADPHC, stated that this partnership demonstrates their commitment to enhancing population health in Abu Dhabi through proactive and innovative strategies. He emphasized that the collaboration with AstraZeneca aims to provide comprehensive solutions that raise public awareness, promote early screening, and ensure high-quality care for COPD patients. This initiative builds on recommendations from the Abu Dhabi Public Health System Sustainability and Resilience (PHSSR) report.

Sameh El Fangary noted that partnering with ADPHC marks a significant step in advancing public health and tackling the growing burden of chronic respiratory diseases in the UAE. The MoU supports the UAE’s healthcare priorities by promoting global best practices, education, and early diagnosis and treatment pathways. Together, they aim to facilitate better health outcomes and an improved quality of life for every patient.

The strategic agreement highlights a shared vision between ADPHC and AstraZeneca to bolster population health through coordinated efforts in disease awareness, prevention, and best practice sharing. This initiative will particularly benefit COPD patients in Abu Dhabi.

The two-year partnership aligns with AstraZeneca’s mission to transform healthcare and enhance patient outcomes through evidence-based and collaborative approaches. The strategic alliance focuses on three main pillars:

The two organizations will jointly create and implement public awareness campaigns to educate the community about COPD, utilizing both online and offline initiatives to encourage routine testing and early screening.

They will develop strategies for early detection of COPD to facilitate timely intervention and management, thereby reducing the long-term health burden on both individuals and the healthcare system.

AstraZeneca will leverage its global insights and best practices in diagnostics and disease management to improve patient care in Abu Dhabi. This may involve workshops, knowledge exchange sessions with other AstraZeneca affiliates, and collaboration with international partners.

A joint task force will be formed, comprising representatives from both ADPHC and AstraZeneca, to oversee the project’s implementation. This task force will be responsible for aligning strategic priorities, assessing feasibility, and monitoring the progress of each initiative under the MoU. All projects agreed upon will undergo detailed documentation, with implementation pending mutual approval from the leadership of both organizations.

ADPHC is dedicated to enhancing community health through innovative public health systems and continues to address non-communicable diseases, including cancer and respiratory illnesses. The Abu Dhabi Public Health Sustainability and Resilience (PHSSR) report emphasizes the necessity for early screening and legislative support to combat chronic diseases.

AstraZeneca, a global leader in addressing non-communicable diseases in various sectors, including oncology, cardiovascular, renal, metabolic diseases, and respiratory conditions like COPD, brings significant expertise to this collaboration.

This partnership reflects the strong commitment of both ADPHC and AstraZeneca to improve public health in Abu Dhabi and to advance innovative solutions for managing chronic diseases.