Strengthening health quality management for cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and obesity in the United Arab Emirates: an integrated evidence synthesis
- 1School of Health Sciences, Hamdan Bin Mohammed Smart University
- 2Pharmaceutical Section, Supply and Warehouse Management, Emirates Health Services
Abstract
Introduction: Non-communicable diseases (NCDs), particularly cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), diabetes, and obesity, represent a major public health challenge in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Despite strong policy and governance frameworks to address NCDs, evidence on Health Quality Management (HQM) remains fragmented, limiting the development of actionable system-level insights. Integrating empirical evidence with interest groups' experience can provide a more comprehensive and contextual understanding of HQM practices and implementation challenges. This study aims to synthesize evidence from a scoping review and interest groups' perspectives to identify systemic gaps, challenges, and recommendations for strengthening HQM in CVD, diabetes, and obesity care in the UAE.
Methods: An integrated evidence synthesis was conducted using findings from a scoping review (phase 1) and interviews with 20 interest groups representing healthcare regulators and providers, academia, and patient groups (phase 2) from a multi-phase study on HQM practices in NCD care in the UAE. Data were analyzed using thematic synthesis guided by an integrated HQM framework. A mixed deductive-inductive coding and triangulation process were applied to identify areas of convergence, complementarity, and divergence between evidence sources to generate synthesized areas including gaps, challenges and recommendations.
Results: Eight interconnected synthesis areas were identified: governance and implementation; access, equity and financial protection; health workforce and care culture; digital systems and data generation; care coordination and service delivery; patient-centered care and engagement; community engagement and health literacy; and multisectoral collaboration for NCD prevention. Findings revealed strong policy commitment, regulatory frameworks, and expanding digital health capacities supporting NCD care. However, persistent gaps were identified in policy implementation, care coordination, workforce competencies, digital interoperability, outcome evaluations, financial protection, equitable access, and patient and community engagement. Siloed governance and service delivery information systems, high dependency on expatriate workforce, and inconsistent cross-sector collaboration limited the translation of structural strengths into effective and equitable service delivery.
Conclusion: The UAE possesses a strong policy and structural foundation for NCD quality management; however, substantial gaps remain in translating structural readiness into coordinated, patient-centered, and outcome-oriented care. Strengthening integrated governance, digital interoperability, workforce competencies, equity-focused policies, intersectoral collaboration, and performance measurement systems are essential to achieve sustainable improvements in NCD care quality and outcomes.
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BibTeX
@article{rahman2026strengthening,
title = {{Strengthening health quality management for cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and obesity in the United Arab Emirates: an integrated evidence synthesis}},
author = {Md Hafizur Rahman and Fatma Al Hamidh and Zufishan Alam and Fadumo Noor and Nazik Nurelhuda},
journal = {Frontiers in Public Health},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.3389/fpubh.2026.1918436},
url = {https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2026.1918436/full},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Strengthening health quality management for cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and obesity in the United Arab Emirates: an integrated evidence synthesis
AU - Md Hafizur Rahman
AU - Fatma Al Hamidh
AU - Zufishan Alam
AU - Fadumo Noor
AU - Nazik Nurelhuda
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/28
JO - Frontiers in Public Health
DO - 10.3389/fpubh.2026.1918436
UR - https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2026.1918436/full
AB - Introduction: Non-communicable diseases (NCDs), particularly cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), diabetes, and obesity, represent a major public health challenge in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Despite strong policy and governance frameworks to address NCDs, evidence on Health Quality Management (HQM) remains fragmented, limiting the development of actionable system-level insights. Integrating empirical evidence with interest groups' experience can provide a more comprehensive and contextual understanding of HQM practices and implementation challenges. This study aims to synthesize evidence from a scoping review and interest groups' perspectives to identify systemic gaps, challenges, and recommendations for strengthening HQM in CVD, diabetes, and obesity care in the UAE. Methods: An integrated evidence synthesis was conducted using findings from a scoping review (phase 1) and interviews with 20 interest groups representing healthcare regulators and providers, academia, and patient groups (phase 2) from a multi-phase study on HQM practices in NCD care in the UAE. Data were analyzed using thematic synthesis guided by an integrated HQM framework. A mixed deductive-inductive coding and triangulation process were applied to identify areas of convergence, complementarity, and divergence between evidence sources to generate synthesized areas including gaps, challenges and recommendations. Results: Eight interconnected synthesis areas were identified: governance and implementation; access, equity and financial protection; health workforce and care culture; digital systems and data generation; care coordination and service delivery; patient-centered care and engagement; community engagement and health literacy; and multisectoral collaboration for NCD prevention. Findings revealed strong policy commitment, regulatory frameworks, and expanding digital health capacities supporting NCD care. However, persistent gaps were identified in policy implementation, care coordination, workforce competencies, digital interoperability, outcome evaluations, financial protection, equitable access, and patient and community engagement. Siloed governance and service delivery information systems, high dependency on expatriate workforce, and inconsistent cross-sector collaboration limited the translation of structural strengths into effective and equitable service delivery. Conclusion: The UAE possesses a strong policy and structural foundation for NCD quality management; however, substantial gaps remain in translating structural readiness into coordinated, patient-centered, and outcome-oriented care. Strengthening integrated governance, digital interoperability, workforce competencies, equity-focused policies, intersectoral collaboration, and performance measurement systems are essential to achieve sustainable improvements in NCD care quality and outcomes.
SN - 2296-2565
ER -