Abdul Latif Jameel Health and Cureleads announce new strategic collaboration for UAE distribution of innovative health care products and services

• Founded in 2020, Abdul Latif Jameel Health was created as a response to the ongoing global disparity in access to modern medical care, focusing on accelerating healthcare inclusion across the Global South. 
• Founded in 2019, Cureleads works to transform patient lives across the MENA region by leading the path to cure specialty and rare diseases, led by its highly profiled industry leader founders.

Abdul Latif Jameel Health, part of international diversified family business Abdul Latif Jameel, and Cureleads, a Dubai, UAE and Beirut, Lebanon based pharmaceutical and medicinal distribution and marketing business working throughout the Middle East and North Africa, have announced a new agreement for the distribution of Butterfly Network, Inc.’s Butterfly iQ+  ultrasound solution in the UAE. 

The innovative Butterfly iQ+^[1]is the world’s first single probe, whole-body handheld ultrasound solution that brings the power of ultrasound into assessment, diagnosis and treatment processes. 

As part of its new agreement with Abdul Latif Jameel Health, Cureleads will register Butterfly iQ+ in the United Arab Emirates – already widely considered the healthcare hub for the Middle East – and start commercial sales in December 2022, bringing the technology to potentially more than 26,000 medical doctors practicing in public and private hospitals and facilities across the Emirates^[2].

World Health Organization data suggests that over 4.7 billion people around the world lack access to medical imaging^[3], from underserved communities in the United States to remote areas of Africa.  The Butterfly iQ+ aims to remedy this situation.  Fusing semiconductors and artificial intelligence, Butterfly has made it possible to usher in a new era of medical imaging and with it, transform healthcare. 

With a very diverse populace, research estimates the UAE 2022 population at 10.08 million, more than double that in 2005 (4.58 million)^[4].  Government data reports that there are more than 200 nationalities living and working in the UAE.  Indians form the largest foreign community in the country, followed by Pakistanis, Bangladeshi, other Asians, Europeans and Africans.^[5] 

This new collaboration will offer greater distribution of Butterfly iQ+ to physicians in the UAE thereby expanding the capabilities of practitioners working both within, and outside, primary care units such as hospitals and clinics, accelerating access to modern medical care for those who need it most.

Butterfly iQ+, is revolutionizing medical imaging. It is an innovative 3 in 1, single-probe, whole-body  hand-held ultrasound solution, powered by the world’s only Ultrasound–on-Chip™ technology. 

This point of care device with over 20 default presets is compatible with both iOS and Android smart devices and comes complete with battery back, wireless charging, customized app software and AI support.

Hailed as potentially the ‘stethoscope of the future’, the Butterfly iQ+ transforms what can sometimes be complex processes, into one connected and integrated bedside imaging system.  Butterfly iQ+ uniquely unlocks access to ultrasound information at every point-of-care setting, no matter where that setting is. 

Through this distribution, clinicians across the UAE will gain information they’ve never before had, empowering them to perform rapid assessments and to guide more informed clinical decision-making, diagnosis, and treatment. 

Speaking about this new collaboration, Mohamad Rammal, Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder, Cureleads, said: “My life’s purpose, and the purpose of Cureleads, is to create happy, healthy and meaningful lives.  Our aim is to transform patient lives by leading the path to medical cures.  When medical practitioners use the very latest technology of Butterfly IQ+, they will be guided by real time patient assessment.

“The Butterfly iQ+ is an innovative ultrasound solution which fits in the palm of a hand.  We’re very much looking forward to introducing the market to this technology and seeing how it can help every patient across the UAE, the hub for medical innovation in Middle East.”

Akram Bouchenaki, Chief Executive Officer, Abdul Latif Jameel Health added: “Abdul Latif Jameel is addressing tangible real-world needs today, for a better tomorrow. We are focused on health care inclusion, accelerating access to modern medical care for those who need it most. 

“We believe in realizing the true power of deep local knowledge, relationships, and partnerships to get the very best results for the communities we serve.  I am proud to collaborate with Cureleads who share our vision of improving live and lives across the Global South.” 

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[1] Butterfly iQ+ is a Class IIa / Class B / Class II / Class II / IIa portable ultrasound system designed for diagnostic imaging by trained healthcare professionals. Carefully read and understand all cautions, warnings and operational instructions prior to use.

[2] UAE Statistical Annual Report 2020 by the UAE Ministry of Health & Prevention

[3] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5704652/

[4] https://www.globalmediainsight.com/blog/uae-population-statistics/

[5] https://u.ae/en/about-the-uae/fact-sheet