San Francisco-based Innovaccer establishes GCC Advisory Board

In a region where healthcare is undergoing rapid digital transformation, Innovaccer has established a firm foothold. The San Francisco-based healthtech player, already operating from its Abu Dhabi hub, is tightening its embrace of the Gulf by assembling a GCC Advisory Board.

The board brings together two heavyweights — Dr. Walid Abbas Zaher and Dr. Hamed Al Hashemi — both of whom have steered landmark initiatives in the Middle East's health ecosystem.

What's the news?

Innovaccer has officially launched its GCC Advisory Board to strengthen its footprint across the Gulf. The board members aren't just figureheads; they are regional pioneers in digital health and system transformation.

• Dr. Walid Abbas Zaher is known for his work on the Emirati Genome Project and the 4Humanity COVID-19 trials.
• Dr. Hamed Al Hashemi helped build Abu Dhabi's Malaffi, one of the region's leading Health Information Exchanges, and pushed forward regulatory frameworks for telemedicine, AI, and digital therapeutics.

"Innovaccer's vision aligns closely with the region's pursuit of intelligent, outcome-driven healthcare," Dr. Zaher said. "By leveraging data and AI, we have an opportunity to reimagine care delivery, making it more proactive, personalized, and sustainable."

Why does it matter?

This move is more than just another corporate announcement — it's a signal of intent. Healthcare systems in the Middle East are shifting toward value-based care, where success is measured not by the volume of treatment but by improved outcomes and efficiency. Innovaccer, with its Healthcare Intelligence Cloud, wants to be the backbone for that shift.

As Dr. Al Hashemi put it: "Across the Middle East, we are seeing a remarkable convergence of vision, policy, and technology to reshape the future of healthcare. By collaborating with Innovaccer, we aim to harness the power of data and AI to accelerate this transformation."

For policymakers and providers, the payoff could be huge:

• Better system efficiency through connected data
• Personalized, AI-powered care delivery
• Sustainable models that reduce waste and improve patient experiences

The context

The roots of this partnership stretch back to 2022, when Abu Dhabi Investment Office (ADIO) teamed up with Innovaccer as part of its AED 2 billion ($545 million) Innovation Programme. The mission: scale accessibility, affordability, and quality of healthcare across the GCC.

Fast forward to today, and Innovaccer isn't just a foreign player parachuting into the Gulf. It's embedding itself by working closely with regional leaders. As CEO Abhinav Shashank framed it: "Health systems in the Middle East are laying the groundwork for long-term transformation by prioritizing data, outcomes, and innovation. Establishing the GCC Advisory Board is a timely step as we deepen our regional engagement."

With Zaher's expertise in regenerative medicine and Al Hashemi's track record in digital health strategy, Innovaccer now has local credibility paired with global technology muscle. The bet is clear: if the Middle East is serious about connected, value-based care, Innovaccer wants to be the platform running under the hood.