Cigna: UAE beats global adoption rate for virtual health

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has the highest adoption rates for virtual healthcare according to the findings of the Cigna 360° Global Well-Being Survey 2022.

The eighth annual 360° Global Well-Being Survey 2022 was conducted by Cigna in April and May 2022, covering 11,922 respondents aged 18-65 years across key markets worldwide.

According to the survey report, about 52 percent of residents in the UAE expressed trust in virtual health consultation as much as in-person consultation, as opposed to 41 percent globally. This scoring ranks the UAE among the highest in all the countries. UAE residents are also more willing to share data for virtual health (91 percent) as against 81.2 percent globally.

The trend towards increased usage of health and well-being apps seems set to continue with 68.5 percent of people in the UAE now reporting that they would consider or prefer virtual rather than face-to-face engagement when it comes to general health advice, such as nutrition and lifestyle tips. There is strong interest in virtual health for mental health support, such as therapy and counseling, with 66.7 percent of people saying they would consider or prefer virtual consultations, opening up the potential to rapidly expand mental health provision across the UAE.

The report also suggested that the UAE ranked higher than the global average in overall well-being. “UAE has scored 68.2 on the well-being index, significantly above the global average of 62.9, followed by the USA, UK, China, Spain, and Australia. Compared to 2021, UAE’s index has grown by 2.1, as opposed to a global growth of only 0.7,” stated a press release.

Now in its eighth edition, the annual global survey by Cigna says expatriates who move to the UAE record a longer period of stay in the country, when compared with expats moving to any other country in the world. The average expat length of stay in the UAE (4.4 years) is significantly higher against the global average (3.2 years) – a reflection of the better quality of life, finances, and a more stable job market in the country. Post the pandemic, UAE residents are also more conscious of their health and well-being with improved scores across all health indices.

The country’s overall well-being grew by 2.1, the highest amongst all countries across the world. This has been due to progressive policy changes, new visa regulations, and increased resident confidence on the country’s economic growth over the past two years.

The findings of the Cigna 360° Global Well-Being Survey 2022 were highlighted by Jerome Droesch, CEO of Cigna International Markets for Domestic Health and Health Services.

“Cigna has continually invested in keeping a pulse on the health and well-being of people in the UAE. As with our surveys over the years, our eighth annual 360° Global Well-Being Survey has revealed interesting insights into people’s well-being – with UAE ranking among the best in the world,” said Jerome Droesch, CEO of Domestic Health and Health Services, Cigna International Markets.

The survey has also brought out critical pointers in the race for talent, as more employees evaluate their career goals. “Employee health and well-being has become paramount, and employers need to step up to create an environment where employees feel more cared for, supported and can grow in their personal and professional capacities. The Cigna survey sheds light on opportunities organisations can capitalize on to build awareness, drive change in this direction and improve their positions as attractive places to work for,” added Droesch. While the UAE has seen an improvement in overall well-being and managing stress levels, the survey indicated that they continue to feel stressed. Longer working hours have resulted in the number of employees feeling stressed about work. Women in particular, were more stressed that men, with 94 percent reporting incidences of stress.

The presentation was followed by a discussion on the topic of mental well-being and the necessity to address mental health at the corporate and school level. Compared to 2021, the UAE’s well-being indes has grown by 2.1, as opposed to a global growth of only 0.7. This is reflective of the growth in the UAE economy and the job opportunities in the past year. Increased choices are enabling people in the UAE to re-evaluate their lifestyle and