Future of Health and Wellbeing: Ibrahim Almaghlouth at NEOM

Ibrahim Almaghlouth, the Director of Clinical Information for the Health and Wellbeing sector at NEOM, delivered a keynote address titled “Future of Health and Wellbeing” today during the MedTech conference. His talk outlined the revolutionary approach NEOM is taking to redefine healthcare. With a firm focus on wellness, prevention, and personalised care, Almaghlouth’s vision reflects NEOM’s broader goal to create a sustainable, innovative future.

On the stage of the Mediterranean Conference Centre in Valletta, Almaghlouth began his address by introducing the ambitious vision behind NEOM, a futuristic region in northwestern Saudi Arabia, aiming to build a new model for sustainable living. “NEOM is a destination for those who want to dream big,” he explained, adding that the region is not just a city, but a collection of innovative ecosystems designed to address global challenges.

The Health and Wellbeing sector, Almaghlouth stated, plays a central role in this vision. “One of the key challenges in the healthcare ecosystem today is the disintegration within the system. Patients often face fragmented care and a lack of coordination,” he noted. He added that NEOM aims to address these issues by adopting a more integrated and holistic approach to health, which would merge wellness and healthcare into a seamless experience.

Shifting the Focus to Wellness and Prevention

A major theme in Almaghlouth’s speech was the need for a paradigm shift in healthcare delivery.

“While healthcare systems have made significant strides in improving longevity, we have not adequately addressed healthy ageing or quality of life,” he observed.

According to Almaghlouth, the future of healthcare is not just about managing illness but about preventing it from the start.

NEOM’s approach will focus on three critical pillars: prevention, personalisation, and proactive intervention. “Our promise is that we will focus on providing healthy lifestyles to every individual,” he said. By utilising cutting-edge technology and data analytics, NEOM plans to offer tailored health solutions that cater to the needs of each individual, focusing on both mental and physical well-being.

Almaghlouth argued that healthcare systems traditionally contribute only 15 to 20% to an individual’s overall health.

“Interestingly, the remaining 80% is often neglected, yet this is where the true focus of health should lie,” he remarked.

This is why NEOM is shifting its focus to address the broader determinants of health, including genetics, behaviour, and environment, to promote a longer and healthier life.

Creating an Integrated and Sustainable Health Ecosystem

NEOM’s model goes beyond just offering healthcare; it aims to create a sustainable health ecosystem where all aspects of a person’s well-being are interconnected. One of the most innovative aspects of NEOM’s approach is its development of an integrated system that combines both healthcare provision and a robust payment system. “To ensure the success of our model, we need to create a payment system that finances all of this provision,” Almaghlouth explained.

Furthermore, NEOM will focus on creating the right regulatory environment to support this vision. Almaghlouth explained that NEOM is working towards an integrated, multi-sector approach to health that aligns with the goals of other sectors, such as technology, mobility, and energy, to create a holistic framework for health.

To bring this vision to life, NEOM will test and pilot these concepts in its first region, beginning with a foundational population of 5,000-7,000 people. “Next year, we will start testing various solutions on the ground, focusing on the impact on individual citizens and the financial models that will sustain this system long-term,” he revealed.

“We believe in co-creation and co-innovation. The key to success is working together with the global community to deliver this model,” Almaghlouth explained. “We are building a future that reimagines what health and wellbeing can be, with a focus on prevention, wellness, and a healthy lifestyle for all,” he concluded.

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