Abu Dhabi Public Health Centre and AstraZeneca Forge Strategic Partnership to Enhance COPD Awareness and Care in Abu Dhabi

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

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

H.E. Dr. Rashed Alsuwaidi, Director General of ADPHC, stated: “This collaboration reflects our unwavering commitment to improving public health in Abu Dhabi through proactive and innovative strategies. Partnering with AstraZeneca will allow us to deliver comprehensive solutions aimed at raising public awareness, encouraging early screening, and ensuring best-in-class care for COPD patients. This initiative supports the recommendations of the Abu Dhabi Public Health System Sustainability and Resilience (PHSSR) report and strengthens our vision for a healthier Abu Dhabi.”

Sameh El Fangary, Cluster President GCC at AstraZeneca, said: “Our latest collaboration with ADPHC marks a significant milestone in addressing the growing impact of chronic respiratory diseases in the UAE. Through this MoU, we are proud to support the UAE’s healthcare priorities by sharing global best practices, driving education, and enabling early diagnosis and treatment. Together, we are working toward a future where every patient has the chance to achieve better health outcomes and enhanced quality of life.”

This strategic agreement outlines a shared vision between ADPHC and AstraZeneca to enhance population health through coordinated efforts centered around disease awareness, prevention, and best practice sharing. The collaboration is expected to significantly benefit COPD patients in Abu Dhabi.

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

1. Disease Awareness: Both organizations will jointly create and execute public awareness campaigns to educate the community about COPD. These initiatives will include online and offline strategies to encourage routine testing and early screening.

2. Disease Prevention: The collaboration will focus on developing early detection strategies to identify COPD in its initial stages, enabling timely intervention and management to reduce long-term health burdens for individuals and the healthcare system.

3. Best Practice Sharing: AstraZeneca will share its global insights and best practices in diagnostics and disease management to improve patient care in Abu Dhabi. This will include workshops, knowledge exchange sessions with other AstraZeneca affiliates, and collaboration with international partners.

A joint task force will be established with representatives from ADPHC and AstraZeneca to oversee the project’s execution. The task force will be responsible for aligning strategic priorities, assessing feasibility, and tracking the progress of each initiative under the MoU. All projects will be subject to further detailed documentation, and implementation will proceed upon mutual approval from the leadership of both organizations.

ADPHC, committed to elevating community health through innovation and integrated public health systems, continues to focus on addressing non-communicable diseases such as cancer and respiratory illnesses. As part of its broader public health strategy, ADPHC launched the Abu Dhabi Public Health Sustainability and Resilience (PHSSR) report, which highlights the need for early screening and legislative support to combat chronic diseases.

AstraZeneca, a global leader in the treatment of non-communicable diseases, including oncology, cardiovascular, renal, and metabolic diseases, as well as respiratory conditions such as COPD and rare diseases, brings its unparalleled expertise to this collaboration.

This partnership underscores the commitment of both ADPHC and AstraZeneca to improving public health in Abu Dhabi and advancing innovative solutions for the management of chronic diseases.