Mansoor Meenai: Catalyst Forum Focuses on Turning AI Vision in Healthcare into Measurable Value

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Mansoor Meenai, Head of the META Region at Arcera Life Sciences, said that the “Catalyst: Collaborating to Turn AI Vision to Value” Forum, hosted at NYU Abu Dhabi, was primarily focused on moving artificial intelligence in healthcare from ideas to real impact by bringing together stakeholders from government, academia, and industry for an honest conversation about what is working, what is not, and how AI can be applied responsibly to deliver measurable outcomes.
Meenai explained that while there is no shortage of pilots and concepts today, many healthcare systems are still struggling to translate these initiatives into solutions that make a tangible difference. He added that hosting the forum during UAE Innovates Month helped ground discussions in evidence, governance, and collaboration, with a strong focus on real use cases such as improving patient outcomes, making systems more efficient, strengthening supply chains, and supporting healthcare professionals in their day-to-day work. He also noted that the forum addressed often overlooked fundamentals, including trust, accountability, and the importance of building capabilities over time.
He stressed that the forum reflects Arcera’s broader commitment to strengthening healthcare resilience across the UAE and the wider Middle East, ensuring that innovation delivers real value rather than remaining at the level of ideas.
Speaking about the timing of accelerating AI adoption, Meenai said healthcare systems across the META region are facing significant pressure driven by workforce shortages, rising demand, higher costs, and growing complexity, noting that incremental change is no longer sufficient. At the same time, he pointed out that AI has matured, with solutions now capable of scaling and delivering measurable value rather than remaining experimental.
According to Meenai, this moment is different because of the increasing readiness across the healthcare ecosystem, with more available data, stronger digital infrastructure, and leadership teams increasingly focused on outcomes instead of isolated pilots. He added that in markets such as the UAE, national strategies and evolving regulations are creating a clearer pathway for responsible AI adoption. He also highlighted a shift in mindset, noting that stakeholders are no longer impressed by technology alone and now expect tangible clinical, operational, or economic impact, which is driving the transition from standalone projects to system-wide solutions.
“At Arcera Life Sciences, we see it simply — the question is no longer whether AI can transform healthcare, but how quickly we can implement it in a way that is trusted, evidence-led, and aligned with real patient and system needs,” he said.
Meenai also pointed to areas where AI is already delivering tangible impact, particularly in environments where healthcare systems manage complexity at scale. He identified diagnostics as one of the clearest examples, explaining that AI-supported imaging and data analysis are helping clinicians detect conditions earlier and more accurately. He noted that in the UAE, Emirates Health Services (EHS) has deployed AI across areas such as breast cancer detection, lung tuberculosis, brain stroke, osteoporosis, bone fractures, and chest diseases.
He added that AI is also making a strong impact on the operational side, helping hospitals manage workflows, predict demand, strengthen supply chains, and reduce waste. Even small improvements in these areas can significantly enhance overall system performance. He highlighted that the Ministry of Health and Prevention (MOHAP) has been using AI technologies since 2019 to reduce waiting times in emergency departments.
In life sciences, Meenai said AI is accelerating research, improving manufacturing efficiency, and strengthening quality control, while also supporting healthcare professionals with more relevant, data-driven insights to guide clinical decision-making. Importantly, he emphasised that AI is not replacing human expertise but rather enhancing it, with the greatest value achieved when technology and clinical judgment work together.
Discussing barriers to large-scale AI adoption, Meenai said the main challenges are less about technology and more about how healthcare systems are structured and how stakeholders operate within them. He identified fragmented data and siloed systems as major obstacles that limit meaningful data utilisation. Trust is another critical factor, he noted, explaining that stakeholders must feel confident that AI is being used responsibly, transparently, and under proper governance frameworks.
He also highlighted capability gaps, noting that AI integration requires clinical understanding, specialised skills, and the ability to embed technology into daily practice. Citing recent research, he said only 13.8% of clinicians felt adequately prepared through training for AI integration.
He stressed the importance of embedding ethical frameworks and data protection measures into AI projects from the outset, as well as maintaining transparency around data usage and decision-making processes to build confidence among clinicians and patients.
He further emphasised the need to prioritise evidence, noting that innovation must demonstrate measurable value, whether through improved clinical outcomes, greater efficiency, or enhanced patient experience. Collaboration, he added, remains essential, particularly through early engagement with regulators, academia, and industry to align innovation with policy and societal expectations.
Meenai pointed to Arcera Life Sciences’ recent partnership with the ISPOR UAE Chapter as an example of this collaborative approach, aimed at strengthening the evidence base through health economics and outcomes research to support better policy frameworks and decision-making. He said such efforts help ensure that innovations — including new treatments for multidrug-resistant infections, such as Arcera’s novel intravenous antibiotics — can be integrated into healthcare systems safely, responsibly, and at scale.
“At Arcera Life Sciences, we believe responsible innovation requires both ambition and discipline. By combining technological capability with strong governance and partnership, healthcare leaders can unlock AI’s full potential while preserving the trust that healthcare systems depend on,” he concluded.