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‘Altibbi’ CEO to Asharq Al-Awsat: Telehealth Projects to Produce Leap in Arab Primary Care Systems

Altibbi CEO Jalil Labadi (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Altibbi CEO Jalil Labadi (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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‘Altibbi’ CEO to Asharq Al-Awsat: Telehealth Projects to Produce Leap in Arab Primary Care Systems

Altibbi CEO Jalil Labadi (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Altibbi CEO Jalil Labadi (Asharq Al-Awsat)

The advancement of private sector digital technologies and the creation of pro-investment legislative environments are vital to the modern-day healthcare industry, according to Altibbi CEO Jalil Labadi.

After the coronavirus pandemic experience, the importance of expanding investment in telemedicine has become evident, noted Labadi, adding that Arab governments need to work towards expediting relevant legislation.

“The Arab market is huge, and it needs to activate the role of modern technologies, such as medical platforms and health applications,” said Labadi, explaining that competition in the telehealth industry remains low compared to demand.

In an interview with Asharq Al-Awsat, Labadi recommended that Arab governments reduce procedural and legal complications and shift towards accelerating the establishment of telemedicine projects.

Demand for digital healthcare has grown in recent years, with the coronavirus pandemic providing a significant boost as lockdowns forced people to depend on remote medical services.

During the pandemic, many governments and health ministries in Arab countries, such as Egypt and Jordan, worked closely together to help connect patients to healthcare providers. Giant call centers were established.

According to Labadi, telehealth projects’ most prominent challenges are talent scarcity and a lack of highly qualified cadres.

Combining the latest technologies, AI developments, big data, communication skills, and proper employment is vital to “solving yesterday’s problems with tomorrow’s ideas,” he noted.

Labadi stressed that facilitating telehealth projects will produce a leap in the primary health system in the region’s countries and help solve many problems facing the Arab health sector.

Saudi Arabia is heading toward significant transformation in its “primary care” project, noted Labadi, adding that the trend in the Kingdom will see lowering pressure on hospitals, shortening waiting queues, and swiftly connecting patients to high-quality general practitioners.

Founded in 2011, Altibbi is one of the region’s largest digital health companies. It offers around 4.5 million medical consultations each month.

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FAO Aims for Key Outcomes at COP16 in Saudi Arabia

Preparations in the Saudi capital ahead of hosting the COP16 conference on combating desertification (from the “COP16” page on the X platform)
Preparations in the Saudi capital ahead of hosting the COP16 conference on combating desertification (from the “COP16” page on the X platform)
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FAO Aims for Key Outcomes at COP16 in Saudi Arabia

Preparations in the Saudi capital ahead of hosting the COP16 conference on combating desertification (from the “COP16” page on the X platform)
Preparations in the Saudi capital ahead of hosting the COP16 conference on combating desertification (from the “COP16” page on the X platform)

Dr. Abdul Hakim Elwaer, Assistant Director-General of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), stated that the organization will take an active role at COP16, the UN conference on combating desertification, scheduled to take place in Saudi Arabia in early December.

In remarks to Asharq Al-Awsat, he expressed confidence that the conference—the first of its kind in the Middle East—would produce significant outcomes.

Elwaer’s comments came during a roundtable organized by FAO’s regional office in Cairo, attended by a select group of media representatives. The session focused on FAO’s participation in the upcoming conference and the importance of the Rio Trio —the integrated framework of the three major UN conventions addressing climate change, biodiversity conservation, and desertification.

Fida Haddad, FAO’s Program Officer for Land Rehabilitation and Climate Change, highlighted the interconnectedness of the three conventions and noted that COP16 would place a strong emphasis on land and water rehabilitation and their sustainable management.

Haddad pointed out that approximately 90% of the Middle East is affected by arid conditions. Despite this, local communities and Arab governments have made notable progress in addressing desertification and drought. She also announced that, for the first time, FAO has successfully placed food systems on the COP16 agenda, enabling discussions on how land rehabilitation can enhance food supply chains and systems.

Elwaer underscored FAO’s central role in achieving the second Sustainable Development Goal (SDG): eradicating hunger. He emphasized that FAO actively engages in the UN conventions on climate change, biodiversity, and desertification, which collectively contribute to this mission.

FAO’s focus, according to Elwaer, is on transforming food and agricultural systems to become more inclusive, efficient, and sustainable, aiming for better production, nutrition, and livelihoods. He highlighted the organization’s success in integrating these priorities into the agendas of the three conventions and collaborating with host countries on joint initiatives.

He further noted that Saudi Arabia’s hosting of COP16 is particularly significant for the region, which faces pressing challenges such as water scarcity, desertification, and food insecurity. The conference presents an opportunity for Middle Eastern nations to highlight these issues, explore solutions, and ensure their inclusion in global environmental discussions, not only at this event but in future COP sessions, he underlined.

Elwaer emphasized the growing global attention on desertification, as it is now impacting regions previously unaffected, such as southern Europe and parts of Latin America. These areas are witnessing alarming declines in arable land and forests, prompting them to seek lessons from the Arab world, which has developed resilience strategies to combat desertification over centuries.

FAO will have a strong presence at COP16, with two dedicated pavilions—one in the Blue Zone for official delegations and another in the Green Zone to engage civil society and conference participants, he said.

He added that in collaboration with Saudi Arabia and the UN, FAO will lead coordination on Food Day and Governance Day, scheduled for December 5 and 6, respectively. The organization will also participate in other specialized sessions throughout the conference.