The State of Cancer Care in the United Arab Emirates in 2022

Abstract

Cancer is the third-leading cause of death in the United Arab Emirates (UAE); cancer care in the UAE has evolved dramatically over the last 40 years, from a single center in Al Ain in 1981 to more than 30 cancer centers and clinics across the UAE, with at least four comprehensive cancer centers in the UAE nowadays. Despite the significant progress in medical care, cancer quality control across the UAE is still lacking, with significant variations in cancer care across the cancer centers. Access to clinical trials is still hampered by a lack of expertise and research infrastructure and a small population, which renders patient accrual for trials a major challenge. Education and training are other areas for improvement that require immediate attention, and, in this review, we try to address these critical aspects for stakeholders to consider better cancer care in the UAE. Early cancer detection and screening are still evolving in the UAE, and a national screening program is lacking. There is also a need to address barriers to screening and to consider less invasive screening methods such as approved blood-based screening, which is likely to be more acceptable to the UAE population. In this review, we also address new topics that have not been addressed previously, including oncology medical tourism, psycho-oncology, onco-fertility, precision oncology, survivorship, oncology nursing, cancer support programs, and the oncology sector’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic, all in the context of the UAE cancer landscape. Finally, we provide recommendations for policymakers, regulators, payers, patient advocacy groups, and the UAE oncology community regarding the delivery and future planning of high-quality cancer care. These recommendations are aligned with the UAE government’s vision to reduce cancer mortality and provide high-quality healthcare for its citizens and residents.

Cancer research in the United Arab Emirates from birth to present: A bibliometric analysis

“…The UAE has made significant contributions to cancer care and COVID-19 research, with notable publications receiving high citations and recognition, including the first international recommendations for cancer care during the pandemic. These achievements have solidified the UAE's position as a leader in healthcare and research during these challenging times [ 51 ].…”

Not only a Western world issue: Cancer incidence in younger individuals in the United Arab Emirates

“…Therefore, one cannot assume an increased risk of developing cancer in young individuals in the UAE compared with other countries but, rather, a higher percentage of cancer cases in this age group. Nonetheless, and looking at the absolute rather than the relative risk, having such a high burden of cancer in younger age groups stresses the need for understanding risk factors for early onset disease that can inform optimal (early) screening and preventive strategies 7,8 …”

“…Obesity and smoking (including all forms) have been prioritized on the UAE public health agenda, with multiple initiatives to control them. Several efforts to optimize the uptake of gender‐neutral human papillomavirus vaccination and to mandate hepatitis B vaccination in high‐risk groups have also been launched in the past 2 decades 7 . Further research into the roles of other risk factors, such as the unique genetic admixture in a country highly populated by expatriates, cultural habits, environmental risks, and the microbiome, are called for to shed better light on cancer epidemiology in the UAE, and various projects have been recently launched with this objective, including the Emirati Genome Program.…”

Patient safety culture predictors and outcomes for sustainable oncology nursing practice: A cross‐sectional correlational study

“…A previous systematic review has indicated that cancer nursing considerably contributes to patient‐benefitting interventions and cancer research in general, but this contribution is not often documented (Charalambous et al, 2018). Currently, recognition of cancer nursing as a field varies greatly through Middle Eastern countries owing to the increasing number of patients with cancer, shortage of staff, inadequate cancer care settings and advanced cancer technologies and therapies (Al‐Shamsi, 2022; Silbermann et al, 2013; Wazqar, 2018). However, recent advances in cancer care have resulted in improved treatment outcomes, but they have also introduced new patient safety risks (Sharp et al, 2019).…”