The UAE and Israel signed an agreement aimed at enhancing the quality of healthcare in both countries.
The deal will involve the two countries co-operating on several areas related to health, including fighting the coronavirus pandemic, protecting medical data, cybersecurity, medical education, innovation and the use of artificial intelligence and other fields of advanced technology.
The agreement, which was announced by the Emirates Health Services Establishment, was signed by its director general Dr Yousif Al Serkal, and Israeli Health Minister Yuli Edelstein, in the presence of Abdulrahman Al Owais, Minister of Health and Prevention.
Dr Al Serkal said the agreement would enhance the protection of health data for patients and involve the exchange of research between the two countries.
"The UAE and Israel have proven their superior prowess in the healthcare field, as the Covid-19 vaccination programmes in the two countries are among the fastest and most efficient globally," he said.
"It is natural for the two countries to develop their technical co-operation given that they are the most technologically advanced in the Middle East region."
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A foreign national receives a dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine at a vaccination centre in Tel Aviv. Bloomberg -
A nurse administers a dose of the Pfizer Inc.-BioNTech SE Covid-19 vaccine to a foreign national at a vaccination centre in Tel Aviv, Israel. Bloomberg -
A nurse prepares a dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine for administration to a foreign national at a vaccination centre in Tel Aviv. Bloomberg -
A foreign national receives a dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine at a vaccination centre in Tel Aviv. Bloomberg -
A nurse prepares a dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine for administration to a foreign national at a vaccination centre in Tel Aviv. Bloomberg -
Foreign nationals receive the Pfizer-BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine at a vaccination centre in Tel Aviv. Bloomberg -
A foreign national hands over a document and passport at a registration desk at a vaccination centre in Tel Aviv. Bloomberg -
Foreign nationals and asylum seekers queue to register their details for the Pfizer-BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine at a vaccination centre in Tel Aviv. Bloomberg -
Foreign nationals and asylum seekers queue to register for the Pfizer-BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine at a vaccination centre in Tel Aviv. Bloomberg -
Foreign nationals queue to receive a dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine at a vaccination centre in Tel Aviv. Bloomberg
Dr Al Serkal said the co-operation will contribute to supporting international efforts to combat the pandemic and help to find creative solutions to the emerging challenges facing the health sector.
He said the UAE and Israel "will seek to facilitate cross visits by experts and to set up major economic and health projects, in addition to strengthening co-operation between medical institutions".
The UAE and Israel signed the Abraham Accord last September and established direct diplomatic relations.
The two countries also signed several bilateral agreements, including a reciprocal visa-waiver deal.
