Healthcare technology in the GCC is moving beyond pilots, with AI, remote monitoring, connected care and precision medicine increasingly judged on measurable real-world impact. Lorena Diaz Pelle is of the opinion that the next phase of health tech will depend less on novelty and more on interoperability, cybersecurity, data quality and integration into existing healthcare systems.

[For more news, click here]

The healthcare technology conversation is moving into its practical stage. After years of experimentation with AI, digital health and connected care, providers are facing harder questions and issues around integration, procurement, cybersecurity and measurable patient outcomes. In an exclusive discussion with Tech Revolt, Lorena Diaz Pelle, Event Director at WHX Tech, highlighted an important shift in the market: Innovation cannot be judged by promises but by whether it can work reliably inside a real healthcare system and scale beyond the pilot stage. She gave us her perspective and valuable insights on how the change is taking place in GCC.

1. Healthcare has spent several years experimenting with AI, digital health and connected care. Which technologies are now moving most convincingly from pilots into meaningful, real-world deployment?

Through conversations with healthcare providers, technology companies and startups, we are seeing a clear shift toward technologies that demonstrate practical, measurable benefits.

AI continues to play a significant role, particularly in diagnostics and efficiency improvements. At the same time, digital health platforms, telehealth, remote patient monitoring, and connected care are becoming established parts of healthcare delivery.

According to our research partner, NXT Horizon, telehealth and remote patient monitoring in the Middle East are growing at a CAGR of more than 20%, highlighting the demand for technologies that extend care beyond traditional healthcare settings. Interest in genomics and precision medicine is also growing in the region.

What feels different now is that the conversation has shifted from a technology's potential to how it will function in practice, its impact on patients and healthcare professionals, and its applicability for wider adoption.

At WHX Tech, we are reflecting on this shift. While enthusiasm for innovation remains strong, there is now a greater emphasis on turning that innovation into solutions that can be implemented effectively in real healthcare environments.

2. There is often a big difference between an impressive healthtech product and one that hospitals can integrate, procure and scale. What tends to distinguish the technologies that make that transition successfully?

One recurring theme from healthcare providers is that having strong technology is just one aspect of the journey. Across various healthtech sectors, many practical questions consistently arise. Healthcare organisations need to understand how a solution will fit into existing workflows, whether it has been thoroughly tested, how it will protect patient data, and how seamlessly it can integrate with the systems they already use.

The companies making the most progress often engage healthcare providers early and listen attentively to the needs of clinicians and decision-makers. A product may be innovative, but if it adds complexity or fails to address a specific healthcare problem, adoption becomes much more difficult.

That is also why relationships are so important in healthtech. Transitioning from an idea or pilot to wider adoption usually requires input from all these stakeholders.

3. AI is dominating the conversation, but could that focus be distracting the industry from less fashionable problems such as interoperability, infrastructure and fragmented health data?

AI is generating a huge amount of attention; the discussions occurring across the industry encompass much more than just AI. One clear message emerging from healthcare organisations is that they do not necessarily need more standalone technology. Instead, they need solutions that work with existing systems and enable information sharing across different areas of healthcare. According to NXT Horizon, more than 60% of healthcare providers prefer platforms over standalone tools, showing how important integration is becoming in technology decisions.

This realisation brings issues such as interoperability, cybersecurity, data quality, and digital infrastructure into the conversation. Although these topics may not attract the same headlines as AI, they consistently arise because they directly impact the successful introduction of a new technology.

While AI is a major part of the discussion, topics such as cybersecurity, connected care, and the practical challenges of bringing different technologies and healthcare systems together are equally important. We are seeing more mature conversations not just about what new technology can do, but what needs to be in place to make it useful, secure, and practical.

4. The GCC has traditionally been a major buyer of global healthcare technology. What would need to change for the region to become a serious healthtech exporter rather than simply an early adopter?

We are beginning to see signs of this transformation. While the GCC remains an important market for international healthcare technology, startups, investors, and locally developed solutions are also emerging.

The scale of digital health activities in the region provides a solid foundation for this shift. According to NXT Horizon, more than 70% of health systems in the GCC implement national digital health programmes, with Saudi Arabia and the UAE leading regional investments in this area.

The activity in startup investments further indicates this shift. Data from PitchBook shows that between January 2025 and July 2026, 32 health tech companies across five GCC markets secured funding, with Saudi Arabia and the UAE accounting for most of that activity.

From our perspective, the next stage involves helping more of these businesses move beyond the startup and pilot phases. While funding is crucial, access to healthcare providers, partnerships with experienced stakeholders, investors who understand the sector, and opportunities for market expansion matter just as much.

If more locally developed companies can prove their solutions in this environment and then expand internationally, the GCC can shift from being predominantly a buyer to also becoming a creator and exporter of healthcare technology.

5. Saudi Arabia and the UAE are both investing aggressively in healthcare transformation. Are we beginning to see two distinct models emerge for how technology is being integrated into healthcare across the region?

We do see different areas of emphasis, but we wouldn't classify them as entirely separate models. In Saudi Arabia, there is a strong focus on building local capabilities in biotechnology, pharmaceutical localisation, and the overall development of the Kingdom's healthcare and life sciences sector.

In the UAE, we see robust activity in genomics, precision medicine, health data utilisation, and research, along with growing interest in preventive care and healthy ageing.

Interestingly, these developments are not occurring in isolation. Companies, investors, and healthcare leaders increasingly recognise the GCC as an interconnected region, even though each market has unique priorities.

Over the next few years, we believe the opportunity lies in how these different strengths can converge. If businesses can develop in one market while forming partnerships in another, ultimately expanding beyond the GCC, it will foster a much stronger regional health tech ecosystem.

6. As you look toward 2027, which part of the healthtech conversation do you think is currently receiving too much attention, and which area is still being underestimated despite its potential impact?

Currently, AI garners the most attention, which is understandable given its possibilities. However, our discussions show that healthcare organisations are increasingly focused on what happens after the initial excitement around a new technology subsides. They want answers to questions like whether the technology effectively addresses a real problem, whether users will adopt it, how it integrates with existing systems, and how it can be implemented safely and effectively.

This is why we believe some less visible areas of digital healthcare are still underestimated. Aspects such as data quality, cybersecurity, interoperability, and the practical processes of integrating technology into existing healthcare systems might not generate much excitement. Still, they are essential to ensuring innovation leads to lasting impact.

Looking ahead to 2027, we anticipate a shift in the conversation from merely asking, "What can this technology do?" to asking, "How do we make it work in the real world?" We believe this will be one of the most crucial developments in health tech.

From Adoption to Regional Capability

GCC’s healthcare system is no longer dependent on breakthrough technologies; in fact, it is impacted by the infrastructure, partnerships, and trust required to make innovation work at scale. Saudi Arabia and the UAE continue to build interconnected healthcare systems but the question is more of regional capability. The shift will require more than capital. It is dependent on whether startups can access healthcare systems early, and whether the providers are willing to co-develop solutions. Also, regulations, data governance and interoperability need to keep pace with the technologies that are being adopted. It is a complex system and the companies that are likely to succeed are the ones that solve operational problems and demonstrate technical potential.

Related Articles

GCC Healthtech Startups Raised $148 Million Since 2025 as the Region Moves from Buyer to Builder

Saudi MedTech 2026 Brings Healthcare Innovation Into Focus in Riyadh

Exclusive: Health-Tech Rising with Four Startups Redefining Care Access and Connection