Dubai: Novartis, a leading global medicines company, has announced a ground-breaking partnership with the Emirates Dermatology Society (EDS) to tackle the urgent need for Hidradenitis Suppurativa (HS) awareness in the UAE.
The collaboration aims to raise awareness of the condition as well as deliver critical insights to help healthcare providers and policymakers support patients affected by this debilitating disease.
HS, a chronic skin condition characterised by painful lumps deep within the skin, affects an estimated 1 in 100 individuals worldwide. The partnership between Novartis and EDS, under the initiative ‘Shine a Light on HS,’ represents an unprecedented opportunity to significantly improve the understanding, diagnosis, and management of this distressing condition.
As part of our mission to reimagine medicine, we are committed to working extensively with stakeholders across the healthcare ecosystem to drive initiatives that will improve and extend people’s lives. Our partnership with the Emirates Dermatology Society aligns with our efforts to transform the landscape of awareness about HS in the UAE and beyond. Through this collaboration, we will revolutionise how HS is perceived, diagnosed, and treated.
Mr. Mohamed Ezz Eldin, Head of Gulf Countries, Innovative Medicines at Novartis, commented.
As part of this collaboration, Novartis and EDS will establish scientific and educational platforms targeting dermatologists and patients in the UAE, fostering a deeper understanding of HS. By combining resources and expertise, both organisations will capture and generate local data on HS through real-world evidence (RWE), empowering the medical community to make evidence-based decisions.
“We are incredibly enthusiastic about this joint endeavour with Novartis,” Dr. Muna Al Murrawi, President of the Emirates Dermatology Society, commented.
“By joining forces, we can pool our expertise and resources to address the unique needs of HS patients in the UAE. Our collective goal is to gain a comprehensive understanding of HS, its profound impact on patient lives, and explore ways to improve their quality of life,” Dr. Al Murrawi added.