Arab media has an important role to play in advancing culture and civilisation, particularly through informed and responsible coverage of issues that directly affect people's lives, including healthcare. This reflects the vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, who has emphasised the importance of investing in culture and civilisation, a speaker at the Arab Media Summit said today.

Participating in a Media Chat at the Government Communication Forum held at the Summit titled "The Human Voice of Government", moderated by Hamed bin Karam, Editor-in-Chief of Al Bayan, Sherif Beshara, CEO of American Hospital Group, cautioned against allowing commercial considerations to overshadow the fundamental purpose of healthcare. He called for greater coordination across the sector, with healthcare institutions and other stakeholders working together to improve the quality of care and patient outcomes.

He called for clear performance indicators to assess overseas treatment, including treatment outcomes, success rates and complications. A structured evaluation system, he said, would help ensure patients are referred to institutions with the appropriate expertise and that decisions remain focused on the quality and effectiveness of care.

Beshara stressed that decisions on overseas treatment need to be made with particular care because of their wider implications for the healthcare sector. He noted that responsibility for such decisions ultimately rests with policymakers and health regulators, rather than the media, which has a different role in informing the public and raising awareness.

Turning to Arab media more broadly, Beshara called for greater confidence in the region's own media institutions and for a stronger focus on building public trust through credible and reliable reporting. He said Arab media should not view partnerships with Western media as the only route to progress, pointing to the Arab world's historic contribution to human knowledge and civilisation. He expressed his hope that Arab media would build on that legacy and aspire to be at the forefront of the global industry.