A coffee-break interview with Dr. Akram Bouchenaki, CEO Abdul Latif Jameel Health – on his vision for the future of health inclusivity in the developing Global South.
Q: Firstly, what is Abdul Latif Jameel
Health?
Akram Bouchenaki: Abdul Latif Jameel Health was founded in 2020, as the
Jameel family’s response to one of the greatest problems of today’s global society – the disparity in access to affordable modern medical care to those who need it most – notably this is in the fast-growing markets and economies of the developing world, particularly, the so-called ‘global south’.
Q: Does the Jameel family have prior tangible health sector experience?
Akram Bouchenaki : Abdul Latif Jameel <aljhelath.com> Health reflects what is the Jameel Family’s long-established commitment to innovating for a better future which can be seen in their global philanthropic endeavours through Community Jameel <communityjameel.org/en>, an international organization supporting science and technology-led solutions to global challenges. Community Jameel and MIT co-founded the Abdul Latif Jameel Clinic <jclinic.mit.edu/> for Machine Learning in Health (or the Jameel Clinic) in September 2018 – which has rapidly become the very epicenter of AI and healthcare at MIT – and the Abdul Latif Jameel Institute for Disease and Emergency Analytics (the Jameel Institute <imperial.ac.uk/jameel-institute>) co-founded with Imperial College London, in October 2019, using novel data analytics to reduce global risk of preventable disease most recently including the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic, and strengthening health systems in the most fragile settings.
Abdul Latif Jameel Health takes this commitment into the commercial environment addressing tangible real-world needs today, for a better tomorrow.
Q: How is Abdul Latif Jameel Health going about implementing this mission?
Akram Bouchenaki: The business is focused on health care inclusion, as I said, with a focus on the global south. This is accomplished under the mantra of ‘accelerating access’ in two main ways.
Firstly, we are rapidly developing expertise across medical devices, pharmaceuticals and diagnostics distribution – building on the solid foundation laid down by the Abdul Latif Jameel businesses over the past 75 years – and we will also provide a comprehensive range of associated healthcare business partner services. This means a single relationship solution delivering tailored services specifically designed to accommodate our partners’ needs – a fully integrated proposition from registration to distribution and promotion and regulatory services.
The second approach is to constantly explore new opportunities and long-term investments to partner with innovators, global market leaders, investors, healthcare
providers and government entities that share our vision. Abdul Latif Jameel Health works closely with the JIMCO Life Sciences Fund <jimco.com/en/funds/life-sciences/>, part of the Jameel Investment Management Company (JIMCO.com) – the global investment arm of the Jameel Family. Here JIMCO are actively investing in innovative, early-stage and breakthrough ventures and technology, aiming to positively shape the future of health.
Backed by Abdul Latif Jameel <alj.com/>, one of the region’s most respected diversified family businesses and global investors with a 75-year heritage, deep roots, established networks and a multi-sector presence in 30 countries across six continents, Abdul Latif Jameel Health is uniquely positioned as a trusted partner in realizing major innovations and opportunities in the healthcare world.
Q: What is Abdul Latif Jameel Health offering at Arab Health in January 2022?
Akram Bouchenaki : At Arab Health 2022, we’ll be introducing to the region, some of the most exciting innovative technologies and approaches from our partners who share our vision for a more inclusive health future. These are from around the world, as far away as Japan and the USA and their solutions offer a real and immediate step forward to achieving our joint ambitions. I look forward to meeting your readers there.
