Healthcare Governance in the 4th Industrial Revolution: Leading Through Patient-Centeredness and Empowerment in the UAE

Abstract

The purpose of this chapter is to discuss the importance of patient-centered healthcare governance in the context of the 4th industrial revolution. We clarify the multidimensional notion of patient empowerment (PE) and conduct a comprehensive survey of PE-related research in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Our study objectives are achieved by means of a two-phased systematic review of the literature on PE and associated dimensions. The retained articles point to two major themes and four topics on ‘conceptual clarification’ and ‘contextual embeddedness’, where PE is tackled in relation to national healthcare system, healthcare governance, information technology, and therapeutic continuum. Our analysis of UAE-based PE studies unveils three themes on ‘chronic disease care’, ‘self-medication with drugs’, and ‘non-therapeutic interventions’. By juxtaposing the identified PE themes and topics, we derive three promising opportunities for researchers, practitioners, and policymakers to consolidate, expand, and initiate relevant PE interventions in the UAE. We found that PE represents an emergent and under-explored notion in the UAE healthcare system. As UAE ambitions to become a sought-after medical hub on the global arena, the design and implementation of adequate PE strategies and reforms play a critical role in the development of a world-class patient-centered healthcare in the country.