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Margins Are Shrinking: How Middle East Hospitals Can Stay Ahead in a High-Cost Era

By Ibtisam Shiraz | August 1, 2025

Hospitals in the Middle East are facing challenges as medical expenses are projected to rise by 12% in 2025, surpassing the global average of 10.4% (WTW, 2024). This is the sharpest financial pinch on providers in ten years, marking the third consecutive year of double-digit hikes. Hospital margins are being squeezed throughout the region as expenses rise due to increased utilisation, rising pharmaceutical spending, and costly new technologies.)

The Hidden Effect of M&A on CMS Patient Safety Indicators

By Ibtisam Shiraz | July 31, 2025

As healthcare systems race to expand, reduce costs, and increase market dominance, mergers and acquisitions (M&A) have become increasingly common, averaging more than 250 transactions annually over the past five years. While most conversations around M&A emphasize financial growth and operational efficiencies, a vital aspect often goes unnoticed: the effect of these transformations on CMS Patient Safety Indicators (PSIs)

Fighting Hepatitis with Innovation: Why Digital Health Is the Missing Link in Elimination Strategies

By Ibtisam Shiraz | July 28, 2025

The global battle against hepatitis is at a turning point in 2025. Despite decades of progress, viral hepatitis remains one of the top ten global causes of death, claiming 1.3 million lives annually and infecting more than 6,000 people every day. Types B and C account for the vast majority of these cases, silently fueling liver cancer and chronic liver disease worldwide.

How UAE Health Systems Can Avoid Digital Fragmentation After Expansion

By Ibtisam Shiraz | July 25, 2025

The UAE is experiencing a digital health renaissance. Fueled by Vision 2031, sweeping government initiatives, and strategic public-private investments, the country is fast becoming a regional leader in smart healthcare. From AI-powered diagnostics and virtual consultations to smart hospitals and integrated EHR systems, the UAE is building a future-ready healthcare ecosystem.

Denial Rates Up? The Revenue Cycle Ripple Effect of Healthcare M&A

By Ibtisam Shiraz | July 24, 2025

In 2025, the U.S. healthcare sector finds itself at a critical inflection point. On one hand, mergers and acquisitions (M&A) are accelerating at an unprecedented pace as providers seek to scale, survive, and gain a competitive advantage. On the other hand, claim denial rates are soaring, costing hospitals billions and placing an enormous strain on revenue cycle operations. What many healthcare leaders are beginning to realize is that these two trends are deeply intertwined, and the financial risks of ignoring their intersection can be devastating.

Perioperative Pitfalls: How Poor Surgical Outcomes Hurt CMS Rankings

By Ibtisam Shiraz | July 21, 2025

As U.S. healthcare moves deeper into the era of transparency and value-based reimbursement, hospitals are under unprecedented pressure to deliver safe, efficient surgical care. The stakes are high: in 2025 alone, over 820 hospitals experienced CMS rating drops due to poor surgical outcomes and readmission rates. Meanwhile, CMS penalties tied to hospital-acquired conditions and readmissions have surged past $2 billion annually, with some hospitals losing millions in incentives for a single star rating downgrade.

Choosing the Right Tools For Building a Value-Based Digital Health Stack in the UAE

By Ibtisam Shiraz | July 18, 2025

As the UAE continues its healthcare transformation journey, digital innovation stands at the center of value creation. However, building a cohesive, value-based digital health stack goes far beyond adopting the latest apps or devices. It requires a strategic selection of tools that work together to support data-driven care, patient engagement, operational efficiency, and measurable outcomes.

Effective Surgical Pathways for High-Value Specialities: Cancer, Orthopaedic, and Heart Care

By Ibtisam Shiraz | July 17, 2025

The optimisation of surgical routes in high-value specialities like cardiovascular care, orthopaedics, and oncology has progressed in 2025. These specialities are the most complicated and resource-intensive operations, and they also account for a sizable amount of hospital revenue. Hospitals must make sure that their surgical services are effective, standardised, and results-driven as expenses increase and the complexity of care increases.

CMS Star Ratings: Outdated Metric or Still the Gold Standard

By Ibtisam Shiraz | July 14, 2025

Since its launch nearly a decade ago, the CMS Star Rating system has served as a critical benchmark for evaluating healthcare quality across U.S. hospitals and Medicare Advantage (MA) plans. Designed to simplify complex quality metrics into a consumer-friendly 1-to-5 star scale, the system has long helped patients, providers, and payers make informed decisions.

Tech That Heals: How UAE Can Evaluate and Scale Healthcare Innovation Wisely

By Ibtisam Shiraz | July 11, 2025

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is undergoing a rapid and strategic transformation in its healthcare system, aiming to become a global leader in medical innovation. Backed by strong public investment, forward-thinking policies, and a commitment to excellence, the UAE is embracing technologies such as AI-driven diagnostics, robotic surgery, telemedicine, and precision medicine to enhance both patient outcomes and operational efficiency.